Kaua‘i Department of Water Schedules March-April Meetings on Proposed Rates, Infrastructure

The Kaua‘i Department of Water announced a series of in-person community meetings in March and April 2026 to present findings from a Water Systems Investment Plan and to discuss proposed water rate increases and capital infrastructure needs. The announcement included the incomplete fragment “The county framed the sessions,” and otherwise directs public attention to the plan and the rate discussion.

Joe Tait, Manager and Chief Engineer at DOW, framed the investment plan as a roadmap for long-term decisions. “The Water Systems Investment Plan is more than a technical document, it’s a roadmap for investing in the island’s most vital natural resource: water,” Tait said. Tait added the meetings are meant to draw public input: “We’re focused on building a resilient water system that meets the needs of our customers today and for future generations,” said Joe Tait, Manager and Chief Engineer at DOW. “But we can’t do that alone. These meetings are a chance for customers to share their perspectives, ask questions, and help shape investments that will impact their local communities.”

The department emphasizes the stakes by pointing to the system’s scale and age: DOW operates and maintains 425 miles of waterlines, 50 wells, 60 tanks, and over 3,000 hydrants across the island, and “many parts of the system date back more than 100 years.” The Water Systems Investment Plan is described as “a comprehensive island-wide water system study” and “a long-range strategic plan that helps guide decisions on water system upgrades, maintenance priorities, and capital improvement projects across Kauaʻi.” The plan explicitly addresses aging infrastructure, climate change impacts, water supply resilience, and projected growth.

Public materials released by the department do not include a verified list of specific March–April 2026 meeting dates, times, or community venues. The department’s website does include a table labeled “Board Meeting Dates for 2025” that lists March 20 and April 17 at 9:30 a.m. for 2025 Board meetings, but that 2025 schedule should not be treated as the 2026 community meeting schedule. Department rules state that “Regular Meetings of the Board shall be held in the Department of Water’s board room or any designated place once each month, or on a date to be determined by the Board,” which reflects how meeting dates can shift.

Residents are encouraged to attend in-person meetings to review the plan and ask questions about proposed rate changes and capital projects. The Department of Water’s public contact details are listed at 4398 Pua Loke Street, Lihuʻe, HI 96766; TEL: (808) 245-5400. The department’s website also lists quick links for “See outages in your area,” “How to pay your water bill,” “How to read your water bill,” and “Sign up or transfer water service,” and its social feed shows photo posts on February 22 and February 23, indicating ongoing outreach ahead of the March–April sessions.

These March–April 2026 meetings will be the primary public forums where DOW presents the Water Systems Investment Plan findings and discusses proposed water rate increases and capital infrastructure priorities that will shape islandwide water service planning.