The Kauaʻi Department of Water, in partnership with the U.S. Navy’s Pacific Missile Range Facility, is working on a plan to improve the Kekaha-Waimea water system through support from the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation, a federal agency.
The agency recently awarded the water department a $1.3 million grant to conduct survey, design and predevelopment work to support the county’s Kekaha-Waimea water system, which is critical infrastructure for the military facility relies on the water for its operations and workforce. About 980 employees report to work at the base, including many who reside in Kekaha and Waimea.
The project will assess current and future water needs, evaluate engineering and infrastructure options, and develop a strategic implementation plan for water resources, storage, transmission and distribution improvements that benefit both the West Kauai community and Pacific Missile Range Facility.
The project will be done in 2028, and include a regional planning and feasibility report, a hydraulic analysis and a capital-improvement funding and implementation plan.
“This funding is critical because reliable water infrastructure is fundamental to the safety, resilience and long-term vitality of West Kauai,” said Joe Tait, manager and chief engineer at the Kaua`i Department of Water.
The partnership recognizes that community infrastructure and installation readiness are closely connected.
Current water-system limitations underscore the importance of this effort. PMRF receives potable water from the county system but has limited supply capacity and relies on a single aging well that cannot be removed from service for repair and modernization without an alternative source. Water-system constraints also affect future housing, community growth and wildfire-response capacity in the Kekaha-Waimea area.
“This project is an example of how shared planning can address local challenges, improve resilience, and help ensure that West Kauai and PMRF are positioned to meet future needs together,” Commanding Officer Capt. Robert Prince said in a press release.
For more information on the Kekaha-Waimea water system or this project, contact the Department of Water at 808-245-5455
To learn more about the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation, visit https://oldcc.gov.
