Capacity and Fire Flow to improve with $1 M Paia Tank Replacement

By Wendy Osher

The county Department of Water Supply is proposing the replacement of a water storage tank in Lower Paia to meet greater capacity needs and basic fire flow standards.

Lower Paia Tank. Photo from Final Environmental Assessment.

The Paia area currently has two tanks: a 300,000 gallon Upper Paia Tank that serves Skill Village; and a 100,000 gallon Lower Paia Tank that serves the area makai of Skill Village to Paia Town and from Baldwin Beach to Hookipa Park.

The Final Environmental Assessment notes that the existing Lower tank does not have the capacity required for basic fire protection. According to 2002 Water System Standards, fire protection for Downtown Business is 2000 gallons per minute for two hours. That translates to 240,000 gallons required for adequate fire protection.

The Water Department is proposing the replacement of the 25-year old Lower Paia tank with a new 300,000 gallon tank. Together with the Upper Paia Tank, a total of 600,000 gallons of capacity would become available.

The new tank would be the same height as the existing tank, but would occupy a large space with a 73% greater diameter. The project site is on Baldwin Avenue, across from the Skill Village subdivision and the Paia Gym.

The project cost is estimated at slightly over $1 million and is expected to take nine months to complete.

Water officials plan to construct a temporary tank while the old tank is removed and construction of the new tank gets underway.

The Department has filed a Final Environmental Assessment with a Finding of No Significant Impact.