Kauai County officials remind the public that the sewer rate increase is going into effect July 1 as a result of the passage of Bill 2874 by the Kauai County Council in September 2022.

The previous adjustment to wastewater rates was July 1, 2024.

“Increasing 11% per year over a five-year period, funds from this increase will go into much-needed repairs of facilities that are over four decades old,” said County Engineer Troy Tanigawa in a release. “Repairs will avoid costly emergency repairs and will increase the overall efficiency of wastewater operations. We thank the Kauai County Council for their assistance in implementing this change, which will greatly benefit wastewater infrastructure for the island.”

According to the Department of Public Works, the rate structure was developed using a Cost of Service Analysis from the American Water Works Association’s M1 Manual, Principles of Water Rates, Fees, and Charges (7th Edition), and the Water Environment Federation’s Manual of Practice No. 27, Financing and Charges for Wastewater Systems.

“The County uses Wastewater Treatment Capacity Assessment revenues and Sewer Connection Charge revenues to pay for wastewater management operating and capital costs, including debt service payments,” added Tanigawa.

For more information and to see a copy of Bill 2874, the public can contact Donald Fujimoto at 808-241-4084 or dfujimoto@kauai.gov.