Recycled water expansion and possible desalination
Maui County
Summary
A fire survivor credited pencil cactus with saving his property and urged county-wide planting as living firebreaks; another asked the county to fund reclaimed water delivery to Bishop Estate lands so dry fields stop becoming fire hazards.
At a glance
- Total mentions
- 2
- Last 30 days
- 0
Discussed at 1 meeting in the last 60 days; most recently Sep 24, 2026.
Impact analysis
Speaker asked to expand the reclaimed-water budget already set to reach Wahikuli.
Everyone in fire-prone West Maui and similar dry windward areas.
Rawlins-Fernandez warned brine disposal and reduced groundwater discharge could harm shoreline ecosystems and native limu.
Mentions & discussions (2)
Disaster Recovery, International Affairs, and Planning Committee (2025-2027) — September 24, 2026
The committee endorsed a $25 million recycled-water storage and distribution CIP, doubled the RO reuse study budget to $500,000, and voted 7-2 to keep studying desalination with a possible demonstration facility — over concerns about brine and cost.
Budget, Finance, and Economic Development Committee (2025-2027) — April 17, 2026
A fire survivor credited pencil cactus with saving his property and urged county-wide planting as living firebreaks; another asked the county to fund reclaimed water delivery to Bishop Estate lands so dry fields stop becoming fire hazards.
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