Water Supply
Water is Maui's most politically charged infrastructure issue. The FY27 budget proposes a 5% rate increase to address a $2.6 billion long-term infrastructure deficit (per Maui Now, Apr 30, 2026 — not from official budget), while state and federal regulators constrain supply in three aquifer systems — including the Lahaina aquifer, the same area devastated by the August 2023 wildfire.
FY27 Dept Budget
$93.8M
++1.9% vs FY26
Infrastructure Deficit
$2.60B
Long-term est. — Maui Now Apr 2026, not in official budget
Annual Infra Needs
$30.0M
Per year — DWS board materials, not in official budget
New Positions
+10
236 → 246 FTEs (+4.2%)
The Infrastructure Crisis
The Department of Water Supply faces a $2.6 billion long-term infrastructure deficit — meaning the cost of deferred maintenance and necessary capital upgrades that have accumulated over decades. The 5% rate increase in FY27 addresses only $30.0Mper year of the most immediate needs. Without sustained and increasing rate adjustments, the department's own assessments suggest the deficit will continue to grow.
Debt Service FY27
$6.0M
++12.0% vs FY26 — growing
Equipment Surge
$3.5M
++50.3% vs FY26 — catching up on deferred purchases
Upcountry Meters
0 → 100
New meter approvals FY27 — processing suspended FY25–FY26 pending new water source
FY27 Rate Increase
Effective July 1, 2026
+5%
Monthly service fees
+ higher tiered rates
The 5% base rate increase applies to monthly service fees, with additional hikes to tiered usage rates for higher consumption tiers. The department cites $30M in annual infrastructure needs as the primary driver (source: DWS board materials; methodology not documented in official budget). Separately, a $2.6 billion long-term infrastructure deficit has been reported — though this figure comes from an independent analysis, not from the official budget document, and the relationship between the $30M annual figure and the $2.6B total is not formally explained.
Supply Constraints
State and federal regulators restrict water access in key areas — independently of the infrastructure deficit.
Affects: Lahaina Aquifer Sector, Iao Aquifer System, All of Molokai
Hawaii Commission on Water Resource Management limits groundwater withdrawals in these areas — directly restricts supply capacity
Affects: East Maui, West Maui, Nā Wai ʻEhā
State-mandated stream flow standards restrict surface water diversions
Affects: Countywide
Annual compliance requirements increasing in scope and cost; PFAS and emerging contaminants standards tightening
Wildfire Impacts
The August 8, 2023 Lahaina fire created compounding challenges for water supply — particularly severe because Lahaina is served by an aquifer already under CWRM administrative control.
Staffing
Water Operations
Field ops, plant ops, new compliance/planning hires
Water Administration
Flat — no admin growth
Water Supply has the highest position growth rate among Enterprise Fund departments at +4.2% — focused on field operations, compliance monitoring, and land use planning. Premium pay is declining (-37.3%), a positive sign that operational staffing is improving.