Water committments face amendment

A change in water quality at a North Kona development’s well has prompted the Department of Water Supply to expand its ability to limit the development’s water commitments.

The Board of Water Supply is expected to defer until next month the department’s request to amend its water agreements with Kohanaiki Shores LLC and Palamanui Global Holdings LLC, DWS Manager and Chief Engineer Quirino Antonio said Monday.

In the late 1990s, then property owner Nansay Inc. agreed to build what the department calls the Kau well at the property’s mauka end, near Mamalahoa Highway. When the property eventually sold to two developers, Kohanaiki, makai of Queen Kaahumanu Highway, and Palamanui, mauka of the highway, the department altered the water agreement to reflect two landowners developing the well system, Antonio said. The well is on Palamanui’s property.

“This second amendment is a little more specific in allowing the department the ability to monitor water quality or performance, and it allows the department to reduce (water) commitments to Palamanui,” Antonio said.”Although the water quality meets all the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Health standards,” some of the levels being detected of things like chloride and pH levels are changing.

The existing agreement gives 80 percent of the water the well generates back to Palamanui, while the department will keep the remaining 20 percent.

Antonio said the department is waiting for the developers to approve the newly negotiated agreement terms before taking the changes to the water board.

Kaimi Judd, of Kohanaiki Shores, said the development has been working closely with the county to improve the county’s water system.

A message left with a Palamanui representative was not returned Monday.