Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-04-09
The KUUANU WATER STUATION.,AND A LESSON

Investigation Of the Hawaiian Electric Com
panys contract with the territory to secure wa
ter for boiler purposes from the Nuuanu dam has
not so far uncovered an attempt by the corpora
ton to take the grossly unfair advantage Of the
public such as the attack made this morning
might lead readers of the Advertiser to believe.
The contract was, we believe, entered into in
good faith on both sides, the corporation natnr-
ally wishing to secure water that could be run
through its pipes without leaving a mineral de-
post and the territory agreeing to what looks
like a financially advantageous contract.
There is, however, a very grave objection to
the contract as we'll as to the situation which il
has developed
Nuuanu valley is now in the midst of a water
famine, it is alleged No matter what the con
tributing causes, the fact is that now the valley
is short of water for irrigating purposes and
several residents inform the Star Bulletin that
water for domestic purposes is often falling
Some weeks ago the superintendent of public
works issued an order absolutely prohibiting ir.
rigation in the Nuuanu section, including Alewa
Heights and other more populous districts.
The objection to the contract with the Ha-
waiian Electric Company is that it does not pro
vide that water can be sold to the corporation
only after sufficient aedter Is furnished pirate
consumers IN the affected district for domestic
we believe, for the territory to sell water for
commercial purposes in such a way as to deprive
consumers OF water for household use and for
Irrigation.
The contract with the Hawaiian Electric
Company merely specifics that the agreement
shall be subject to all the general rules and
regulations relating to the Honolulu waterworks
and the use of water supplied thereby" The
rules and regulations of the water department
do not include provision protecting wa.
ter for household and irrigation purposes
as against its sale for commercial purposes
Hence the contract with the electric company, as
it now stands, seems to furnish no way whereby,
If water is short in Nuuanu, the territory can
temporarily cease selling water to the company
until the shortage is past.
It seems to the Star Bulletin that the con
tract should be changed to include the restrict
i've clause suggested above, and we do not see
that there is any reason why the contract should
not be changed Governor Frear and Superin.
tendent Bishop, both of whom signed the agree
ment, and electric company officials, also sign
ers, should be willing to admit the wisdom of a
policy of seeing that the public has first service
from the public water system.
The Nuuanu situation carries with it very
strong moral that cannot be overlooked. Our
present sources Of water supply are inadequate;
the territory and the city must look further.
Two years ago the legislature authorized the
purchase of the Pauoa water rights The Pauoa
sources will furnish 100000 gallons of water
daily at an elevation of from 500 to 700 feet
The rights were appraised, if we are correctly
Informed, at 100000. But the purchase of the
rights by the territory has been allowed to lag
1t has not been pushed as it should have been
pushed in view of the urgent needs of Honolulu
On excellent authority the Star-Bulletn is
informed that a private syndicate is considering
buying these rights rs good financial invest
ment The Panoa water should never be allowed
to get into private hands. Honolulu must con
troll all the nearby water.
Clearly it is time for the territory to act. II
is not sufficient 10 investigate this Nuuanu sit
nation, for the amount to be taken by the cleo
trio company there is infinitesimal compared to
the amount the city must provide for.
Let's get away from penny wise, pound-fool
ish policies and work, Honolulu united can
work, for a great water system fer the future
JAIL The AUTO FlENDS