Bill 189 restricts water use in times of need.

[Obie]

Rob,

Why not jump into the 20th century and use a meter with a key pad like at the gas stations ?

Accept coins or cards.

Water is cheap.

I still fail to see why water should be free to those on catchment when their tank runs dry.

[Rob Tucker]

Water is free. Why not at least leave it available as it is to the poor and those in need who haul their own? Does everything actually have to have a padlock and keypad? I can guess how long a locked spigot would hold up to a thirsty person with a hammer in their hand. What follows that? Armed guards, locked gates and putting people in jail? It costs more to meter the water than the water costs.

What is the incentive to charge for water from a road side spigot? Who is the beneficiary of the accumulating funds? The county is terribly inefficient in handling it's revenue's now. Does an trickle of income from a roadside spigots amount to anything more than another new tax? So that county contractors can continue to be overpaid for their work?

I have not heard the CoH yet proposing a charge at the spigots. Bill 189 proposes rationing. What if the unnamed source of the bill is lobbying from the water hauling companies (I am not saying they are) so that they could increase their trade and market share? It is similar to the fact that Heleon bus doesn't go to the airport. Every wonder why? Because someone has influence.

I would like to understand just who is behind the Finance Director's transmittal of Bill 189.

[Obie]

I don't believe the bill calls for rationing, it calls for enforcement of the original intent of the spigots.

Water for drinking and cooking.

I don't want to get started about how many times I have seen people with hoses washing their cars at the Pahoa spigots.

(Which are very nice by the way)

[ef9]

The water is and always free, you only have to pay for the treating, metering, upkeep of the infrastructure (piping, etc.), pumping, etc.

Whether you are on county water, the water itself is free.

[whalesong]

Water, water, everywhere, but not a drop to drink!
[]
How long are we going to accept this from our LEADERS? The Technology is there to turn our salt water into drinking water, it time to start using and doing something about this shortage before a major drought happens.
I think it's time to do a rain dance![]

[mdd7000]

Upon moving here last year, I was surprised that the county provided free water to commercial companies. I last lived in a rural area. We had a great well. Others that were not so fortunate routinely had extra water hauled in. Local communities (small towns) generally had facilities available that would allow a truck to pull up and fill with water much like the high, overhead spigots available around here. However, they had a meter system. It cost a quarter (25 cents) for every 100 gallons which would be $10 for 4000 gallons. It was a reasonable charge and paid the town back for its' costs of providing the treated water.

On hot days, kids liked to put a quarter in and stand under the huge spigot - 10 seconds and 100 gallons on a nearly 100 degree day was cheap fun.

[Rob Tucker]

I have been in touch with Civil Defense which is the government office apparently overseeing the public water spigots and I have their rationale for this proposal (Bill 189). Commercial haulers of water, I am told, are metered separately and billed under contract. The proposal itself does not seem to address what CD feels are legitimate concerns:

1. Abuse of the spigots for car and boat washing.
2. Increasing costs of maintaining the system and paying for the water to the Dept. of Water Supply.

My suggestion to Civil Defense, which they are considering, is to separate the two issues and consider a method of producing a revenue from the water locations. This would involve an ordinance and penalty for illegal uses such as car and boat washing with signs clearly indicating the ordinance and fine.

Secondly I suggested that parking meters be installed so that a quarter could purchase sufficient time to fill 100 gallon tank. People walking in could have free access to all the water they can carry. Farmers and gardeners would be allowed to load as much water as they like at a 25 cents per 100 gallons rate.

My calculations are that if 50% of the users freely paid a quarter that the costs of delivering public water could be reduced 25% and maintain availability for all legitimate needs. If 100% of users paid the fee willingly the costs of delivering public water could be reduced 50%.

Access to adequate water for all people at all levels of need would be preserved at minimal inconvenience and cost to the public.

[Seeb]

I dont know why Civil Defense should be paying for any of this ( they probably took it on originally to cut thur the B.S. at public works/water supply so people woudnt die ). Don't you think it would be in the mission statement of the dept of water supply to provide safe drinking water to the residents?

I think a meter system would be a fair way to do it. a quarter for so many gallons like at an diy car wash. you can probably get the equipment off the shelf

[Rob Tucker]

It is my understanding, based on statements from the Department of Water Supply, that the water itself is indeed free. It is the delivery systems of pumps, pipes and meters that require maintenance.

Water meters are very expensive and easy to damage or destroy. What I have proposed above would keep water free to anyone in simple need and only make a facility charge to those in need of larger quantities.

[Seeb]

are there numbers anywhere on amount used / cost to operate