MYTH: Haiku Wells are part of a management plan to meet needs of future growth countywide that conforms to all Community Plans.
FACT: The Ha’iku-Paia Community Plan (p. 11) specifically states that water developed in Ha’iku should be used to meet Ha’iku’s needs first…not sent to South or Central Maui. Ha’iku Wells are not planned to supply water to Ha’iku and the County is discounting other potential water sources ormanagement strategies for South-Central Maui needs.
MYTH: County well plan consultants claim that removing millions of gallons of fresh water that would otherwise reach nearshore waters will have NO effect on marine life or ocean water quality in Ha’iku.
FACT: Studies in other areas of the state show a very strong correlation between sufficient fresh/salt water mix and increase in healthy nearshore marine life populations.
MYTH: Ha’iku streams are supplied by a separate layer of water, completely unconnected to the deeper aquifer from which proposed wells will pump.
FACT: No12/18/05mpletely unconnected. Heavy pumping can cause “coning”- water withdrawals that spread into adjoining areas. Ten years ago, consultants were certain Nahiku stream waters were separate from a deeper aquifer. This has since beeen proven untrue. More information is needed.
MYTH: Ha’iku has plenty of water, taking 10-15mgd (mil gal/day) more will have no effect.
FACT: Ha’iku streams already have 3 to 5 levels of EMI ditch systems removing millions of gallons a day and a County pipeline extracting 1.9 mgd at Awalau stream. Groundwater pumping from private and public wells currently runs 1.5mgd. Another 2 mgd more in withdrawals is proposed by new private wells. HC&S wells in Ha’iku may withdraw up to 4mgd. Small farmers rely on coastal springs, which will be affected by pumping. Who’s doing the math?
MYTH: Ha’iku wells are the most cost effective water supply for Maui’s future needs.
FACT: The pipeline and wells have an estimated construction cost of over $48 million. Annual operating costs estimates range from $2 million to nearly $8 million, depending if water is contaminated with carcinogens DBCP, EDP or TCP. There is no guarantee that wells will consistently yield the hoped for 1.5 to 1.75 mgd each.
MYTH: No other practical water sources are available for Maui’s future growth.
FACT: Over 40 mgd of water flows through the Central Maui ditch system controlled by Wailuku Agribiz & HC&S. The County has an unused five year old water treatment plant in ‘Iao valley near the ditch, capable of producing 1.5mgd of clean water a day. The treatment plant is already hooked into the County’s water line system for South Maui. The County is proposing to spend millions on Ha’iku wells and millions more negotiating to buy rights to use ‘Iao ditch water.
MYTH: Ha’iku is very rainy and has extra water to share.
FACT: Haiku has 80-100 inches of rain a year. ‘Iao rainfall is over 200 inches/year. Upper watershed above Ha’iku wells is non-native, reforested areas whose potential is less than optimum. No one knows if the watershed will support sustained 10mgd pumping. Sustainable yield of an aquifer is not based on how much rain it receives, but on how much can be absorbed and retained by the watershed.