Upcountry, W. Maui water systems improvements complete
WAILUKU - The Department of Water Supply has completed $15.2 million in water system improvements for its Upcountry and West Maui water systems, the department announced.
The improvements are expected to reduce maintenance time and costs and increase operating efficiency.
The largest single project is a $9.3 million, 3-million-gallon water tank installed at the Kamole water treatment plant in Haliimaile. It does not increase water production at the plant, but it improves disinfection and operational efficiency for the Upcountry water system, water officials said. The new water tank went into service Nov. 10.
Contractor Kiewit Pacific began construction in September 2006. Design of the project was by Okahara & Associates, with structural design by KAI Hawaii.
Two smaller tanks were placed in service last month in Kaupakalua. Goodfellow Bros. was the general contractor for construction of a $1.5 million, 300,000-gallon tank at the department's Kaupakalua well site and for a $3.3 million, 500,000-gallon tank above the Kaupakalua well. The latter water tank project included site work and installation of a pipeline.
The two tanks increase the storage capacity for Haiku residents and allow for improved operational efficiencies, the department said. Mitsunaga & Associates and KAI Hawaii designed the tanks. Construction work began in March 2007.
In West Maui, water department personnel installed two additional filters at the Lahaina water treatment plant. Also, the facility's existing filters were retrofitted with polyvinylidine difluoride membranes, which are a state-of-the-art filtration technology that reduces operating and chemical costs.
Work on the in-house project began in August 2007. With a total of five filters, the facility is able to operate more efficiently and should have less down-time for cleaning and maintenance, department officials said. The Lahaina expansion and upgrade cost $1.1 million. Planning and construction for the project was completed by water department staff.
The Lahaina filter replacements are part of a three-year process of upgrading the microfiltration facilities at three of the county's four water treatment plants.
An upgrade of the filters at the Olinda water treatment plant was completed in March 2007, and filter upgrades at the Kamole water treatment plant are scheduled for early next year.
"These projects are a wise investment for our water service system that will provide long-term benefits for our customers," Mayor Charmaine Tavares said. "As our needs for water delivery grow, so does our need for new technology. The filters will help simplify maintenance of the system, and increase the efficiency of our operations."
