Kaua‘i County sewer rate increase goes into effect on July 1

Kaua‘i residents are reminded that the county’s sewer rate will increase by 11% starting July 1, 2023. The previous adjustment to wastewater rates was in 2014.

The increase comes after Kaua‘i County Council passed Bill 2874 in September 2022. According to the legislation, the rate will increase by 11% per year over a five-year period. County officials say the additional money collected will go toward repairing facilities that are over four decades old.

“Repairs will avoid costly emergency repairs and will increase the overall efficiency of wastewater operations,” County Engineer Troy Tanigawa.

The rate structure was developed using a Cost of Service Analysis from the American Water Works Association’s M1 Manual, Principles of Water Rates, Fees, and Charges (7th Edition), and the Water Environment Federation’s Manual of Practice No. 27, Financing and Charges for Wastewater Systems.

“The County uses Wastewater Treatment Capacity Assessment revenues and Sewer Connection Charge revenues to pay for wastewater capital facilities, including debt service payments,” Tanigawa said.

For more information and to view a copy of the approved Bill 2874 covering the Sewer Rate Increase, contact Donald Fujimoto at 808-241-4084 or dfujimoto@kauai.gov.