Our Water Supply in a Fire: A Sobering Look at Waikoloa's Critical Vulnerability
In our mission to protect Waikoloa from wildfire, we've always known that water is our most critical defense. But how resilient is our water supply in a true emergency?
To find out, we met with Hawaii Water Service (HWS) Manager Geoff Fulks for a firsthand tour of the facilities that keep water flowing to our homes. The findings are detailed in our full report (linked below) and summarized here.
How Our Water System Works (And How It Fails Under Pressure)
HWS normally draws water from 8 wells to serve Waikoloa Village and the Beach Resort area. However, this system has a critical weakness: it is entirely dependent on electricity.
During a power outage—whether from a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) or downed lines—the system is immediately crippled:
Production is cut in half. Only 4 of the 8 wells have backup diesel generators.
The clock starts ticking. Each generator has only 48 hours of fuel on site.
Resupply is uncertain. After 48 hours, refueling depends on trucks that must navigate unpaved roads, which could be blocked by fire, flood, or other disasters.
A critical resource
Our ability to fight a fire depends on nearly all other water use stopping. If residents continue irrigation, hydrant pressure will drop, hampering firefighting efforts.
The Stark Reality for Firefighting
HWS estimates that running all four backup wells simultaneously can produce enough pressure for four fire engines to pump from hydrants—but only if nearly all other water use in the community ceases immediately.
This is the most critical takeaway: Our ability to fight a fire depends on your actions.
Outdoor irrigation at the resorts and in the Village accounts for the vast majority of water use.
While HWS has agreements with resorts to shut off irrigation, there is no effective plan to communicate with or ensure compliance from Village residents during an emergency.
If water is used for irrigation or other non-essential purposes during a fire, the hydrant pressure will drop, hampering firefighting efforts.
Photo Credit: Hawaii Water Service
A Difficult Choice No One Should Have to Make
The report uncovered another harrowing possibility. To maintain pressure in one part of the system, HWS has the ability to shut off water to entire neighborhoods. This would turn those areas into "sacrifice zones," making firefighting there impossible. This is an unthinkable choice, and accessing those street-level shutoff valves could put HWS staff in extreme danger.
The Path to a More Resilient Waikoloa
This isn't just HWS's problem; it's a community-wide safety issue. We must advocate for solutions that harden our critical infrastructure, including:
"Hardening" the Power Lines: Pushing HECO to strengthen the specific power lines that serve the wells so they are less likely to be shut off.
Exploring On-Site Renewable Energy: Investigating solar or wind generation at the well sites, similar to the County's successful Lalamilo Wind Farm, to create a resilient and independent power source.
Community-Wide Education: Every resident must understand that during a fire emergency, every drop of water is for firefighting. We must all commit to turning off irrigation and minimizing water use the moment an alert is issued.
Our safety depends on a reliable water supply. This report makes it clear that today, reliability is on a shaky 48-hour clock. We must work together to change that.
During a power loss, water production is immediately cut in half. The backup system has only a 48-hour fuel supply, with resupply dependent on trucks that could be blocked by fire.
Read our complete, detailed facility report and analysis here:
Link to Full HWS Facility Report PDF
Stay informed. Conserve water when alerted. Get prepared.
- The Wildfire Safety Advocates of Waikoloa
