Council committee to take up proposed resolution to prioritize recycled water use

The Maui County Council’s Water and Infrastructure Committee will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Thursday to discuss a resolution urging the county administration to prioritize the use of recycled water and preserve potable water for affordable housing and other residential uses, Council Member Tom Cook announced Monday.

Resolution 24-161, introduced by Cook, would request the mayor and Department of Environmental Management to invest in increasing recycled-water production and distribution and exploring public-private partnerships to expand recycled-water use for irrigation and other purposes. The full Council discussed Cook’s resolution at length on Sept. 27, but ultimately decided to refer it to committee for further discussion.

“It is important to note that the resolution is not mandating where R-1 water will be used,” said Cook, who chairs the committee. “The purpose of this resolution is to recognize the benefits of using recycled water, especially in relation to building housing for our local residents.”

The Maui Island Plan says the use of recycled water should be increased to help sustain limited freshwater supplies. Recycled water also reduces reliance on injection wells for the disposal of treated wastewater, Cook said.

“I want to ensure that we craft a resolution that is in the community’s best interest and sends a clear statement to the administration,” Cook said. “I look forward to hearing the public’s ideas and proposals on ways to be responsible stewards in managing public trust resources.”

In-person, online and phone testimony is welcome at all meetings. Testimony instructions are on the meeting agendas, available at mauicounty.us/agendas.

For more information, contact committee staff at WAI.Committee@mauicounty.us or 808-270-7838.