Water Board votes
against rate increasesWindward side urged to shut spigots
Oahu water customers will not be seeing a rate increase July 1, as was scheduled.
The Honolulu Board of Water Supply voted yesterday to keep rates the same for residential, nonresidential, agricultural and nonpotable customers, as well as water system charges for water services to new developments.
The board also approved a new operating and construction budget totaling $195.6 million for the coming fiscal year. That includes $65.7 million to replace broken water mains.
The budget also includes $93.7 million for operating expenditures, $44.3 million for research and facility improvement programs and $36.1 million for capital improvements.
The one-year rate freeze was recommended by the board's manager and chief engineer, Clifford Jamile.
"I don't think that we need to go to the public, because we have sufficient revenues to fund next fiscal year's requirements," Jamile said.
"We're doing a lot to reduce our costs," Jamile said. "We've been able to live within our means. Infrastructure replacement is extremely high on our to-do list."
The Water Board has not increased consumer rates for eight years.
The current residential rate is $1.77 for 1,000 gallons. The next scheduled step increase is $2 for every 1,000 gallons as of July 1, 2004.
In 1996 the board had projected an annual rate increase schedule. Had the increases been carried out, customers would now be paying more than $3 for 1,000 gallons.
Board of Water Supply
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Windward side urged
to shut spigots during fix
Windward residents from Kaaawa to Waimanalo are being asked to conserve water through today while a broken water main on Kamehameha Highway is fixed.
The Board of Water Supply has asked residents to postpone laundry, lawn watering, car washing and any optional water activities until late today.
A private contractor damaged the 30-inch transmission main at 49-839 Kamehameha Highway yesterday morning.
The water main services Kaneohe, Kailua and Waimanalo.
Motorists are asked to avoid the construction area. The Kaneohe-bound lane of Kamehameha Highway in Kaaawa was closed, and traffic was reduced to a single contra-flow lane.