​(This update is from Councilwoman Yuki Lei Sugimura summarizing the information provided at the upcountry meeting held on 8/24.)
 
Thank you to Akakū for airing the meeting last night. For those who missed it, here is a link to the meeting video.
 
Mahalo to Water Director John Stufflebean, as well as Melvin Tokuda and Dennis Lopez from the State Department of Health's Safe Drinking Water Branch for answering questions related to water. We are also very grateful for the participation of Prof. Andy Whelton of Purdue University.
 
RECAP OF INFORMATION SHARED LAST NIGHT

• What was done in response to the fire:
• The system was isolated and secured
• The system was re-pressurized for fire control
• Determined the water advisory and affected areas as is standard practice following a wildfire
• Water samples were collected for testing
• It takes about one week from collection of samples to receiving results
• What is ongoing:
• Samples are still being collected for testing, with more testing to be done in the coming weeks
• None of the samples tested so far exceed health standards
• What is next:
• Sampling/testing will continue over the coming weeks to ensure that the water is safe
• It will likely be a couple of weeks before areas are removed from the advisory
• A definitive timeline was not given because it depends on test results
• If your address is located in the advisory area, follow all guidelines
• If your address is not located in the advisory area, your water is fine
• Increased communication from the Department of Water Supply

 
QUESTIONS

• My office is working on consolidating the questions that were not addressed in last night's meeting so we can get the appropriate and accurate responses.

 
GUIDANCE

• Check the advisory map to see if you are located in the affected area. Addresses are searchable on the top left.
• Follow the guidance put forward by the water department. This information, along with other resources, can be found on mauinuistrong.info.
• Lab results for Upper Kula water systems can be viewed here.

 

The Department of Water Supply has provided an updated interactive map that highlights the areas in Upcountry and Lahaina affected by the unsafe water advisory.

Use this LINK for the interactive map.

Aloha Upcountry Residents - Councilmember Yukilei Sugimura will host an upcountry community meeting about our water situation this Thursday, 8/24 at the Kula Community Center. The following information comes from correspondence with the office of Councilmember Sugimura. 
 
The meeting will focus on the current water situation in Kula. More information will be provided soon.

Attending this meeting will be John Stufflebean - County Director of Water Supply - as well as representatives from the State Department of Health and Environmental Protection Agency. 

Please share this information with any friends or family that you feel may benefit from the information provided.  My (Councilmember Sugimura) office and I continue to request more information be provided to our Upcountry residents by relevant departments and agencies.

A new Community Information Hub, by the University of Hawaii Water Resources Research Center, on the status of Maui water safety is now up and running.  You will find updates and relevant links to answer your questions on water testing and safety.

​Click this LINK for more details.

The Unsafe Water Advisory for Upper Kula is still in effect. The advisory was issued as a precautionary measure due to the unknown impacts of the wildfires in the area. The advisory will be updated as test results are analyzed.
​
Use this LINK for the full Advisory.

Update from Maui County website:

The Unsafe Water Advisory for Upper Kula is still in effect. The advisory was issued as a precautionary measure due to the unknown impacts of the wildfires in the area. The advisory will be updated as test results are analyzed.

The preliminary findings are encouraging, of the tested samples all reported non-detectable, with one (1) exception, trace amounts of xylene were detected, however, well below the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) determined by the EPA.

Use this LINK for the full report.

​Failure to follow this advisory could result in illness.
COUNTY PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Sunday, Aug. 13, 2023   10:17pm

Unsafe water advisory for Upper Kula and Lahaina areas includes new maps

For residents in Lahaina and Upper Kula areas, maps of affected areas in Upcountry and in Lahaina were recently released on the county Department of Water Supply website.

The advisory remains in effect for certain areas until further notice and states that residents should not drink and/or boil water.
Bottled water should be used for all drinking, brushing teeth, ice making and food preparation until further notice. Residents are unable to treat the water in any way to make it safe.

Water buffalo tankers (one per site) with drinkable water are stationed at the following Upcountry locations: Crater Road, Copp Road, Kula Fire Station, Rice Park, Kula Community Center and Keokea. The West Maui locations include: Puamana Street, Kahoma Village, Lahaina Gateway Shopping Center and Honokohau. One tanker is at each site, with the exception of Lahaina Gateway, which has two.

In Lahaina, the advisory applies to all areas except Kaniau Road and all areas north of Kaniau Road, including Villages of Leialiʻ i.
In Kula, the unsafe water advisory is in place for the following areas:

Lower Kimo Road, Ainakula Road, Kukia Place, Malanani Drive, Kaalele Place, Uau Place, Malapua Road, Huina Place, Kulamanu Circle, Paliuli Place, Kulalani Drive, Kulalani Circle, Kualono Place, Kekaulike Avenue, Anuenue Place, Haleakala Highway, Upper Kimo Drive, Alanuilili Place, Meakoho Place, Upu Place, Keai Dha, Nana Pono Place, Kaui Place, Kuilalani Drive, Kulalani Circle Ainakula Road, Kukia Place, Nana Pono Place, Copp Road, Holomakani Drive, Kamila Street, Kamehameiki Road, Pulehuiki Road, Kolohala Drive, Ihe Place, Kahoea Place, Kamila Place, Mauna Place, Wahelani Road, Wahelani Street, Loio Place, Hoihoi Place, Waiakoa Road, Kuulani Place, Waiakoa Place, Kekaulike Avenue, Cooke Road, Johnson Road, Alae Road, Foster Place, Kepa Road, Puakea Place, Crater Road, Hapapa Road, Napoko Place, Puanani Place, Aolewa Place, Ponimoi Place, Kula Hwy at Keokea, Thompson Road, Ulupalakua, Kanaio, Polipoli Road, Kulanani Place, Koheo Road, Monden Drive, Pilikino Place, Area of Kula Hwy between Lepelepe Place and Malamahale Place, Lepelepe Place, Malia Uli Place, Malamahale Place, Naalae Road, Section of Lower Kula Road between Naalae and Waipoli roads, Waipoli Road, Kawehi Place, Oluolu Place and Kaolu Place.

Customers are advised to:

• Limit the use of hot water
• Limit shower and bathing time and use lukewarm water and ventilated area
• Use a dishwasher and the air-dry setting to wash dishes
• Wash clothing in cold water and avoid using clothes dryer
• Not use hot tubs or swimming pools
• Not use ice from icemakers
• Use proper ventilation when using water indoors

For maps of the affected areas, visit mauicounty.gov/water. For more information, call the department at (808) 270-7344.