About Us

The Department of Water (DOW) is a semi-autonomous agency of the County of Kauaʻi overseen by the Board of Water Supply. As a semi-autonomous agency, DOW is responsible to fully support its financial needs to operate, maintain, and expand its water systems in alignment with the County General Plan. At the present time, revenue for these needs is generated through water sales and connection impact fees by a Facility Reserve Charge (FRC).

DOW operates nine separate, unconnected water systems spread out along our island from Kekaha to Hāʻena.

DOW monitors, operates, and maintains 50 deepwell pumping stations, 19 booster pumping stations along with its associated electrical motor control centers and chlorination disinfection equipment, four tunnel sources, 58 storage tanks, 75 control valve stations, and over 400+ miles of pipeline to approximately 25,000 consumer water service connections and meters.

All functions necessary to collect, treat, and distribute potable water from the source to the tap are performed by DOW’s staff of approximately 100, as well as most support functions, including accounting, billing, customer service, engineering, planning and procurement. DOW operates as a semi-autonomous enterprise department of the County of Kauaʻi, under the direction of the Board of Water Supply. DOW derives all of its revenue from water sales with no direct subsidy from, or contributions to, the County General Fund.

Mission Statement

Together, we provide safe, affordable and sufficient drinking water through wise management of our resources and with excellent customer service for the people of Kauaʻi.