City and County of Honolulu News Releases

You are here:  Main / Customer Services / Public Communications Division / 2011 / 11/28/11 Board Of Water Supply Approves Revised Rate Schedule

BOARD OF WATER SUPPLY APPROVES REVISED RATE SCHEDULE HONOLULU – Today the Board of Water Supply (BWS) approved a revised rate schedule to fund the operation, maintenance, and replacement of Oahu's aging water infrastructure.  The water rate increase will be spread over a five-year schedule, at 9.65 percent each year, to minimize the impact on customers. The new rate schedule will take effect on January 1, 2012. "A rate increase starting in 2012 is necessary to keep our water infrastructure and treatment systems operating properly to deliver a safe and dependable water supply," said BWS Chairman Randall Chung.  "Deferring a water rate increase would only result in increasing costs and delaying necessary improvements." The proposed water rate will go from $2.79 to $3.06 for every 1,000 gallons of water during the first year of the revised water rate schedule.  This means the average BWS single-family customer would see an additional $6.99 in their water bills during the first year.  "While we recognize the impact of a rate increase on our customers, we need to renew and replace the core components of our water system to minimize water loss and service disruptions," said BWS Acting Manager Dean Nakano.  "Maintaining an ongoing multi-year capital improvement plan is needed to address aging infrastructure and to ensure continued service." The BWS maintains more than 2,100 miles of pipeline servicing nearly every community on Oahu.  More than 45 percent of these pipelines are greater than 40 years old.  Other components essential to the water delivery system are also in need of proactive maintenance.  This includes 94 potable water sources, 90 booster pump stations, and 170 potable reservoirs.  The revised rate schedule is projected to generate approximately $203 million in funding that will be used to install, repair, and/or renovate more than 250 sites, which include approximately 40 miles of pipeline, more than 210 wells/booster stations, more than 30 reservoirs, 10 granular activated carbon (GAC) water treatment facilities, more than 10 renovation/repair projects at the BWS's Beretania Complex/Corporation Yard, two new wells, and various pump and line booster improvement projects. For more information on the revised water rate schedule, visit the BWS's website at www.boardofwatersupply.com or call the BWS Communications Office at 748-5041