Upper Kula Water System set to change water treatment disinfection effective 12/27/2022.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER

Upper Kula water system returning to chloramines for system disinfection

On or about Tuesday, December 27, 2022, the Department of Water Supply (DWS) will switch the distribution system disinfectant for the Upper Kula water system from chlorine back to chloramines. The only noticeable change is the water with chloramines has less of a chlorine odor or taste.

Chloramines (chlorine and ammonia bonding together) have been used in the Upper Kula water system since 1985. The DWS began a temporary switch to chlorine on September 6, 2022, due to the ongoing water shortage. The Piiholo Water Treatment Plant in Lower Kula has been the source for Upper Kula while the Olinda facility was closed. Both facilities filter water from the East Maui rain forest; however, the Olinda facility uses microfiltration technology and chloramines for disinfection, and the Piiholo facility uses direct filtration and chlorine.

For kidney dialysis patients: In the dialysis process, water comes in contact with the blood across a permeable membrane. Chloramines in that water would be toxic, just as chlorine is toxic, and must be removed from water used in kidney dialysis machines. Please contact your medical professional for more information.

For fish tank owners: Chloramines are toxic to fish and must be removed from tank water, just as chlorine is toxic and must be removed. Although chlorine rapidly disappears from aquarium water on its own, that is not the case with chloramines; steps should be taken to remove chloramines. Most pet stores sell dechlorinating agents and generally recommend using them. Chemicals used to remove chlorine should work just as well for chloramines. Consult your pet store for more information.

For questions about water quality, please call the DWS Laboratory at (808) 270-7550, or log on to http://www.mauicounty.gov/water. For health concerns, please call the Maui District Office of the Hawaii State Department of Health at (808) 984-8200.

State Water System ID # 215 Date distributed: December 9, 2022