Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-04-07
HONOLULU STAR BULLETIN, WEDNESDAY, April. !, 1913
NUUANU WATER
FAMINE Opening
UP BIG PROBLEM
Continued from page one)

Gentlemen. In the issue Of the
Star-Bulletin Of April >. 1878, We no
tie a printed copy CT a petition to
be presented to your honorable body
at meeting to be held Tuesday
evening. April 6, 1915. by the resi-
dents and taxpayers Of upper Nuuanu
valley.
"YOur petitioners allege that the
city water supply has been and is be-
ing depleted TO such an extent that
It is almost impossible to get enough
water from the Euuanu reservoirs for
cooking and ordinary domestic pur'
poses 1t is further alleged that the
Hawaiian Electric Company. Ltd. in
accordance with the terms of their
contract with the Territory, has for
the last two years. been using water
from the Euuanu reservoirs to the
the detriment and injury Of your Pc
titioners.
We feel that your petitioners
have Not approached the cause OF
this water famine with fairness to
the Hawaiian Electric Company or
themselves We do not believe that
your petitioners have made any study
Of the water resources or conditions
Of the Nuuanu reservoirs or fOrmu-
lated any definite or practical plans
for the conservation Of their water
supply.
Two years ago the Hawaiian Elec.
trio Company, deeming it advisable
to use mountain water in it's boilers,
applied, as any individual or corpora.
ton has the right to do, to the prop
er authorities for the same. They
we're informed that the government
would not extend it's mains for so
great a distance for one customer.
The company thereupCn agreed to lay
the necessary pipe at its own en-
pense, the same to become the prop
erty of the government at the ter
mination Of a contract for period Of
years. The contract was drawn up,
the company paying the same rate
and coming under the same regula-
lions as any other customer. 1t was
not until the major portion of the
pipe had been laid that any objec-
ton was made. An Injunction suit
was threatened against the company,
but later ii was mutually agreed that
the questions in difference be submit
ted to the supreme court on an
agreed statement of facts, pending
which 10 connection would be made.
However, no agreed statement OF
facts was ever arrived at and the
matter was dropped by the represen-.
tatives Of the residents of Upper
Nuuanu.
The connection was finally made
in September, 1918, with the know
ledge and acquiescence Of such rep
resentatives.
I'VE note from the petition that the
senate committee decided against
the government and the company and
in favor Of the rights of the public,
but we do not believe that the, petit
TONERS, as they infer. sincerely be-
lieve that this proves the illegality of
the contract.
Although the petition does not so
state outright. the impression which
it conveys is that The Hawaiian Elec-
trio Company through an illegal con-
tract has used large portion of the
water of Nuuanu valley and is to
blame for the present shortage of
water to the residents above Judd
street. The facts are as follows:
1.-THE water supply obtained from
Nuuanu valley is approximately L.
000, 100000 gallons annually, or 3,000,--
600 gallons per day. The amount
used by The Hawaiian Electric Com
pany during the last year has been
a little over $4,000, 900 gallons or about
five days supply. During the greater
part Or 1914 large quantities of wa
ter, estimated variously from $780,
900 to 100000 gallons per day, went
to waste over the spillway of reser-
voir No. 2. Further, Nuuanu valley
water has been used to supply not
only the residents of upper Nuuanu,
but also lower Nuuanu, the business
districts of Honolulu, the wharves and |
the district of Makiki. These districts
were still being supplied with Nuu-
anu water until almost the end Of |
March, receiving approximately 3,000,- |
600 gallons per day notwithstanding
the fact that only about 100000 gal |
Ions per day were going into the res
ervcirs of Nuuanu, and that these dis |
tricts could be supplied by pumping
water. On January /. 1915, |
there were 100000 gallons of water |
in the four reservoirs of Nuuanu. On |
March % they were practically emp |
ty. On that same day the pumps |
were started and a day later artesian
water was supplied to all customers
below Judd street. Now, granting |
that all the water which has been
used by The Hawaiian Electric Com
pany could have been conserved, the |
shortage would have been delayed |
five days, If, land it is a large if) |
the county engineer, or whoever is |
had discontinued supply. !
ing customers below Judd street with |
Nuuanu water on March %.
1--WE would like to ask the peti.
toners how the cancelling Of the con-
tract of The Hawaiian Electric Com.
pany will solve the water question of