Blessing held for $21.8 million Kalaheo Water Systems Improvements Project

A blessing was held Wednesday for the $21.8 million Kalaheo Water Systems Improvements Project, the largest in the history of Kauaʻi County’s Department of Water.

The project will be conducted in three phases along a portion of Pu’uwai Road, Po’ohiwi Road and a portion of Kikala Road.  Work will include the replacement of two storage tanks, approximately 11,500 linear feet of water line, upgrades to water meter service connections, fire protection facilities and appurtenances and paving work. 

The project is estimated to be completed in 2025.

The Department of Water and contractor, Hawaiian Dredging Construction Company, held a blessing to commence the long-awaited project. Engineering and construction management services are being done by Bowers + Kubota Consulting.

The project is part of a comprehensive long-range plan that identifies and addresses the need to upgrade aging infrastructure and conduct water system improvements islandwide.

 “At the Department of Water, we are continuously focused on improving service reliability in areas of high demand for fire flow protection and in support of affordable housing,” Joe Tait, manager and chief engineer of the Department of Water, said in a press release.

Funding for the $21.8 million project included:

• $10.2 million from the State of Hawai’i Legislative Appropriation
• $5.2 million from the State of Hawaii Department of Health Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Grant
• $7.4 million loan from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund

“The grant and financing will allow us to leverage greater investments islandwide so that our current customers and future generations alike will continue to enjoy safe, reliable water service,” Tait said.

According to the release, the Department of Water will communicate directly to customers in the service area about planned short-term service interruptions and traffic control implementation for the duration of the project. 

Notices will be sent via Kauaʻi County Alerts and will be posted on the department’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/KauaiDOW. 

Customers are encouraged to sign-up to receive Kauaʻi County Alerts via Wireless Emergency Notification Service by phone, email or text at www.kauai.gov/KEMA or call 808-245-5455.  Other forms of service announcements are issued via news release, by mail or door to door notices.

For more information, please contact the Department of Water at 808-245-5461.