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Water water everywhere on Maui - but no water meters

By
Real Estate Agent with Hawai'i Life Real Estate Brokers HRE# 58089 - RS

nice maui rainbow

Water water everywhere on Maui - but no water meters

I met some nice people the other day and showed them around parts of Haiku Maui.  They are interested in owning a property where they can be more self sufficient.  Haiku is ideal for this, as there are properties already embracing alternative energies like solar and wind.  We have nice steady tradewinds blowing most every day of the year, and the sun shines a lot too.  

Having their own source of water was something that really appealed to them, especially rainwater harvesting (that's the new term for catchment water).  We talked about the issue of fresh water on Maui and how it impacts development.  It's a long story, and I'm not going to go into it all here and now.  

If you're curious about the water situation on Maui, here are a couple of recent stories.  Piiholo South is a newly developed private well that would like to be embraced by the County for the general good of the community.  It's still early in the game to tell what's going to happen.

 

rainwater catchment tank in Haiku Maui

Water on Maui has been a hot topic for decades.  Without a water meter it's pretty hard to develop housing.  Some property owners have been waiting decades for a water meter.  

That's why we really love our rain water that just falls out of the sky!  That's a typical water tank that you'll see in Haiku and upcountry Maui.  ----->

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Thanks for reading My Maui Blog!  Georgina M. Hunter R(S) e-Pro  

Search the Maui MLS right here ~ call or text me 808 283-0635 ~ EMAIL

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Comments (13)

Brin Realty Associates Team At Bean Group
Bean Group | Brin Realty Associates - Amherst, NH
Amherst NH homes and Southern NH real estate

Makes me appreciate the water that comes from our well...cool clean and fresh...We take it for granted and there you are in paradise and water comes at a premium....thanks for sharing...

Nov 08, 2010 09:13 PM
John McCarthy
North Hampton, NH
Realtor - Seacoast NH

Georgina,

The island of Bermuda has similar issues with water. Every home has a catchment system leading to a basement cistern. The things we take for granted...

Nov 08, 2010 10:39 PM
Craig Rutman
Helping people in transition - Cary, NC
Raleigh, Cary, Apex area Realtor

I learned aomething new today Georgina. I had no idea that you folks rely mostly on rainwater harvesting.

Nov 09, 2010 01:25 AM
Russell Lewis
Realty Austin, Austin Texas Real Estate - Austin, TX
Broker,CLHMS,GRI

Excellent post an rain water harvesting. We are remodeling our home next year and plan to install some sort of system at our home. What is surprising to me is that folks have to wait so long to have a water meter installed, it is almost like people here who are out in the country and resort to wells or some other sort of water source.

Nov 09, 2010 01:56 AM
Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, CRS
Fathom Realty Washington LLC - Tacoma, WA
South Puget Sound Washington Agent/Broker!

Now I can say I learned a little more about an island I love!

Nov 09, 2010 03:25 AM
Georgie Hunter R(S) 58089
Hawai'i Life Real Estate Brokers - Haiku, HI
Maui Real Estate sales and lifestyle info

Thanks for your comments.  Just to clarify... most people here have a county water meter.  But there are some parts of the island where the system doesn't reach, like where I live.  There is also a backlog of people on the waiting list for additional meters, or trying to subdivide, etc., even though there is water everywhere it's just not so easy to deliver it.

Nov 09, 2010 12:04 PM
Barbara-Jo Roberts Berberi, MA, PSA, TRC - Greater Clearwater Florida Residential Real Estate Professional
Charles Rutenberg Realty - Clearwater, FL
Palm Harbor, Dunedin, Clearwater, Safety Harbor

Georgina - water is going to be something that future generations will have many problems with if we don't address the issue today! Here is Florida they pump up ground water and this pumping can have negative effects. Thanks for sharing your local water issues with us.

Nov 10, 2010 09:30 AM
Not a real person
San Diego, CA

Fresh water is an issue here in San Diego, too, but no one seems to be catching water that falls from the sky. Maybe because there’s too little of it falling! J

Nov 10, 2010 08:35 PM
Richard Dolbeare
Inactive - Wailuku, HI
Living the Hawaii Lifestyle

Hi Georgina. 

Maui is more progressive than Kauai in this regard.  I was caught in a Catch-22 for years where I was denied a water meter and then also denied use of a well or catchment.  The rationale is that my neighbors had water meters and the water department didn't want "mixed systems".  I finally sold to one of those neighbors with a meter. 

In retrospect it all worked out for the best because I sold at the height of the market, hurrah!

Nov 12, 2010 05:34 AM
Georgie Hunter R(S) 58089
Hawai'i Life Real Estate Brokers - Haiku, HI
Maui Real Estate sales and lifestyle info

Richard - Maui county had a policy like that, but it's not in effect anymore.  They really should be encouraging more catchment systems.

Thanks for your comments.

Nov 12, 2010 06:15 AM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@Properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Georgina, I can't remember it raining during the three weeks that I was in Maui!   Maybe at night when we were all asleep or something!

Nov 12, 2010 02:30 PM
Gloria Todor
Premier Property Sales & Rentals - Springfield, PA
& Doug Durren (484) 431-3686 in SE PA

Gerogina, Interesting to hear about the issues Ilanders have with water.  Each location has it's issues. 

But what an opportunity to use nature's offerings.

Gloria

Nov 13, 2010 03:19 PM
Juli Vosmik
Dominion Fine Properties - Scottsdale, AZ
Scottsdale/Cave Creek, AZ real estate 480-710-0739

Great information, Georgina.  Water is such a HUGE issue here in Arizona.  I'm glad more people are taking an interest.

Nov 13, 2010 04:57 PM