A state commission decision
on Waiahole Ditch will divert
millions of gallons

By Susan Kreifels
Star-Bulletin

The state Commission on Water Resource Management issued a decision on the controversial Waiahole Ditch case to increase the amount of water flowing to Windward streams.

Of the approximately 27 million gallons of water per day that has historically flowed to Central Oahu to irrigate sugar, 14.03 million will be immediately available for diversified agriculture and other uses in Leeward Oahu. This includes 2.1 million gallons of Kahana surface water that was added to offset water losses within the ditch system.

Windward streams will benefit from an additional 6 million gallons per day which will effectively double the existing base flow in Waiahole Stream and greatly increase the base flow in Waianu Stream.

A proposed 1.58 million gallons per day agricultural reserve will be set aside for future Leeward agricultural expansion but will remain in Windward streams until needed. Nonpermitted ground water totaling 5.39 million gallons will also remain in Windward streams and will be allocated based on future scientific studies.

Added together, nearly 13 million gallons will flow to Windward streams for the near future.

"In the immediate future more water will remain in Windward streams than will be diverted to the Leeward side," said Rae Loui, the commission's deputy director.

The commission had received written and oral objections on its July 15 proposal on how to allocate the 27 million gallons of water per day that flow through the ditch.

The commission had recommended sending 10.24 million gallons per day through the ditch to Leeward fields while returning 6 million gallons to Windward streams. The remaining 10.76 million gallons were to be held in reserve until future applicants for water-use permits could show the water would be put to its best use.

The contested-case hearing began in November 1995.