Committee to Discuss Proposed Repeal of “Show Me The Water” Policy

Water, photo by Wendy Osher.

A bill that would repeal the county’s water availability policy, also known as the “show me the water” policy, will be considered by the Water Resources Committee on Wednesday, Dec. 2 at 9 a.m. in the Council Chamber.

Committee Chair Gladys Baisa announced the upcoming meeting saying, “The policy is often mentioned in discussions as one of the main reasons why affordable housing has not been built.”

She said the review, “will provide a chance to evaluate what the policy’s true impact has been.”

The bill was introduced by Council Presiding Officer Pro Tempore Michael Victorino.

The water availability policy, codified at Chapter 14.12 of the Maui County Code, was enacted in 2007 with the intent to conserve the county’s water resources. The ordinance requires applicants for development approvals to provide evidence of “a long-term, reliable supply of water.”

“I strongly encourage concerned members of the community to testify, especially those affected by the policy,” said Baisa.

The public can submit testimony to wr.committee@mauicounty.us, referencing WR-11.