DEPARTMENT OF WATER SUPPLY
ROLE AND DUTIES
The Department of Water Supply of the County of Hawaii is a semi-autonomous agency charged with the responsibility of operating and maintaining its public water systems. The department’s mission is to provide a continuous supply and adequate quantities of safe drinking water to its customers at a reasonable cost.
The duties of the Manager are to serve as the chief advisor to the Water Board and as the top administrator for the department. The Manager directs the staff of the Department in activities in fulfilling its primary purpose.
The Operations Division has the responsibility of providing high-quality drinking water on a 24-hour basis through the operation and maintenance of water sources, transmission and distribution waterlines, reservoirs, pumping stations, treatment facilities, and communications equipment.
The Engineering Division is responsible for the planning and construction of the public water systems, compliance with State and Federal drinking water requirements, and land surveys.
The Finance Division is charged with the responsibility of customer services, accounting and financial reporting, and data processing.
STAFF
The Department has a staff of 151 employees operating from several locations around the island. In addition to its main office at the Waiakea Office Plaza on Kekuanaoa Street and the Operations Center on Leilani Street in Hilo, the department maintains district offices and baseyards in Waimea, Keauhou and Waiohinu. Aside from its administrative personnel, the department is organized into three major divisions.
Operations Division Head – July 1, 2000 to December 31, 2000
Mr. Dennis K. W. Lee, born and raised in Hilo, previously headed the Operations Division. Mr. Lee received his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
Prior to his employment with the Department in 1990, Mr. Lee was the Area Engineer with the U.S. Department of Defense on the Big Island and before that Engineer in charge of the County of Hawaii Solid Waste Disposal program. Mr. Lee was appointed as Director of the Department of Public Works as of January 2001.
Operations Division Head
Mr. Daryl Ikeda who was born and raised in Kona currently heads the Operations Division. Mr. Ikeda received his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. His career with the department began in 1996 and has headed the Operations Division since April 1, 2001.
Engineering Division Head
Gary S. Kawasaka, born and raised in Hilo, heads the Engineering Division. He received his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. His career with the department began in 1967 and has headed the division since 1980.
Waterworks Controller
Richard S. Tsunoda, born in Hilo and raised in Papaikou and Paukaa, heads the Finance Division. He graduated from the University of Hawaii at Manoa with a BBA degree in accounting. He joined the Department in 1985 after working for Hilo Coast Processing Company.
Number of Employees by Division and Bargaining Units
|
Division |
Bargaining Unit |
Employees |
|
Administration |
Appointed |
2 |
|
Excluded-13 |
1 |
|
|
Excluded-03 |
1 |
|
|
Unit 03 |
6 |
|
|
Unit 13 |
1 |
|
|
Subtotal |
11 |
|
|
Finance |
Exempt |
2 |
|
Unit 03 |
15 |
|
|
Unit 04 |
2 |
|
|
Unit 13 |
3 |
|
|
Subtotal |
22 |
|
|
Engineering |
Exempt |
1 |
|
Unit 03 |
15 |
|
|
Unit 04 |
1 |
|
|
Unit 13 |
12 |
|
|
Subtotal |
29 |
|
|
Operations |
Exempt |
2 |
|
Unit 01 |
62 |
|
|
Excluded-01 |
1 |
|
|
Unit 02 |
8 |
|
|
Unit 03 |
14 |
|
|
Unit 13 |
2 |
|
|
Subtotal |
89 |
|
|
Department Total |
151 |
HIGHLIGHTS/ACTIVITIES
Engineering Division
The following major capital improvement projects were under construction, in various stages of contract award, or in the planning and design phases during the fiscal year.
Puna:
Keonepoko Nui Standpipe Facility. Planning was underway to construct a custom design automatic-vending type equipment to dispense drinking water to customers. The standpipe facility will be located along the Keaau-Pahoa Highway near the Pahoa Airstrip.
Estimated Cost: $79,000
South Hilo:
Honomu Well Development. Plans, design, and permitting applications were ongoing for this well drilling project, which in its first phase. The well is to be constructed adjacent to the Honomu Tanksite to provide a source of potable water to replace the surface water source. The second phase of construction will involve developing the well under a separate construction contract.
Estimated Cost: $350,000
Department of Water Supply Water Quality Assurance & Control Building Extension. Plans and design are ongoing for this project. Additional office and laboratory space will be provided with the construction of this extension to the existing building. The additional space is necessary to provide ample workspace for current and future personnel.
Estimated Cost: $75,000
Hamakua:
Ahualoa No. 1 and No. 2, 0.1-MG Reservoirs. The existing steel water tanks at both tanksites will be replaced with new 0.1-MG reinforced concrete reservoirs. The project also consists of constructing new waterlines to connect the new reservoirs to the existing water system and constructing miscellaneous improvements within the tanksites.
Estimated Cost: $1,000,000
Honokaa Camp 8 G.I. Waterline Replacement. Old and leaky galvanized iron waterlines and appurtenances will be replaced with new waterlines meeting current Department of Water Supply water system standards.
Estimated Cost: $184,000
South Kohala:
Puukapu-Nienie Booster Pump Replacement. Plans, design, and land acquisitions were ongoing for the project. In the Mana Road area water system, the existing booster pump facilities will be replaced with modern equipment. A new booster pump station will be constructed to improve the reliability of a segment of the same water system.
Estimated Cost: $932,000
North Kona:
Waiaha Production Well and 2.0-MG Reservoir. The existing drinking water well at the department’s Waiaha Baseyard site will be outfitted to make it a production well for the North Kona water system. Demolition and removal of the existing surface water filtration facilities are also included in the project’s scope of work.
Estimated Cost: $3,745,000
South Kona:
Hookena Standpipe Relocation. Plans and design were ongoing for a new standpipe facility, which will replace the existing Hookena Standpipe. The new standpipe facility will provide service to water haulers.
Estimated Cost: $315,000
Finance Division
During the past fiscal year, the Department implemented its Automatic Bill Payment (ABP) service, and also began accepting over-the-counter credit card water bill payments.
Water revenues totaled $26.9 million compared to $22.6 million the previous year, an increase of $4.3 million, or 19%. This increase is due to an increase in the number of services, consumption and the rate increase implemented in May 2001. The number of services increased 1.5%, from 35,962 to 36,490. Total consumption increased 3%, from 8.6 billion gallons to 8.9 billion gallons. The island-wide daily average consumption was 24.5 million gallons compared to 23.7 million gallons the previous year. Operating expenses totaled $25.3 million compared to $25.9 million the previous year. The decrease of $682 thousand, or 2.7%, was primarily due to electrical cost savings thanks to reductions in power consumption.
Operations Division
Deep well pump production was 8.58 billion gallons as compared to last year’s 9.22 billion gallons, a 6.9% decrease. Power costs decreased from $8,066,008 to $7,127,307, an 11.6% decrease, attributable to HELCO fuel oil rate decreases and the department’s energy savings and unaccounted water programs.
Noted Division Projects were:
Major In-House Projects:
OPERATIONS DIVISION WORK SUMMARY
July 1, 2001 to June 30, 2002
|
PLANT REPAIR SUMMARY |
WATER SERVICE SUMMARY |
||
|
TANK: |
NEW SERVICE: |
700 |
|
|
Mechanical Repairs |
121 |
||
|
Electrical Repairs |
62 |
CHANGE METERS: |
1825 |
|
PUMPS: |
LOCK/REMOVE METERS |
651 |
|
|
Motor Repairs |
183 |
||
|
Control Repairs |
713 |
UNLOCK/REINSTALL METERS |
471 |
|
CHLORINATION: |
RELOCATE SERVICE/METERS |
30 |
|
|
System Repairs |
21 |
||
|
Pump/Motor Repairs |
20 |
SERVICE LATERAL: |
|
|
Control Repairs |
20 |
Changes |
107 |
|
Repairs |
646 |
||
|
PRV REPAIRS: |
124 |
||
|
MAIN REPAIRS/CONNECTIONS: |
177 |
||
|
BUILDING STRUCTURE |
|||
|
REPAIRS: |
51 |
HYDRANTS: |
75 |
|
RESERVIOUR STRUCTURE REPAIRS |
11 |
METER BOX REPAIRS |
63 |
|
TELEPHONE ANSWERING SERVICE CALLS: |
1162 |
BOARD
Water Board
The Water Board consists of nine members who are appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the County Council. Members serve five-year staggered terms and are representative of the nine political districts of the island. The Board elects its Chairman and Vice-Chairman at the ending of each calendar year. In accordance with the County Charter, the charge of the Water Board is to manage, control, and operate the waterworks of the county.
The Board meets regularly on the fourth Tuesday of each month when it conducts the business affairs of the Department. In addition to these meetings, the Board conducts a public hearing annually on the Department’s operating and capital improvement projects budgets. The Board may also conduct public hearings periodically on the Department’s water rates and Rules and Regulations.
Currently and since January 2002, John S. Tolmie, Jr., and Sandra W. Scarr, respectively, serve as Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Board.
The following is a list of the current members and term expiration:
John W. Clark 12/31/02
Robert H. Makuakane 12/31/02
Raymond M. Kawamata 12/31/03
John S. Tolmie, Jr. 12/31/03
Earl T. Nakashima 12/31/04
Pamela H. Hons 12/31/04
Sandra W. Scarr 12/31/05
Ivan Mochida (effective 1/28/02) 12/31/06
George A. Wilkins (effective 6/5/02) 12/31/06