HI HR182

Urges the Honolulu Board of Water Supply and Kalaeloa Desalco LLC to expand the initial final production capacity of the Kalaeloa Seawater Desalination Facility Project and activate it as soon as practicable.

Notes the facility is currently set to produce 1.7 million gallons of fresh water daily and was awarded a $204 million contract in 2023 with a targeted operational start date of 2027.

Cites Hawaii's water vulnerability including 99% reliance on finite groundwater, declining rainfall (90% of Hawaii receives less rain than the previous century), and the 2021 Red Hill fuel crisis that resulted in 17.5 million gallon per day capacity loss.

References successful desalination models, such as Israel producing 80% of its water supply from desalination, and the American Society of Civil Engineers' 2019 assessment of Hawaii's water infrastructure vulnerabilities.

Requires certified copies of the resolution be transmitted to the Honolulu Board of Water Supply, Kalaeloa Desalco LLC, multiple construction and water companies, and Honolulu City Council members.