In August 2020, MIC applied for assistance through the Fresh Water Initiative - Wai Maoli to help us solve our issues with unaccounted for water losses. Malama Kaua'i, as an eligible 501(c)3 non-profit, joined with the cooperative as our fiscal sponsor for the program.
MIC submitted a proposal to undertake proactive steps to identify our water losses. Cooperating with Malama Kaua'i, who sponsored the grant application, MIC was awarded a two-year program funding from the Freshwater Initiative - Wai Maoli program for agriculture.
With joint funding from the Kupa'a Kaua'i CARES Act to assist in the costs of the construction, MIC used Wai Maoli funds to purchase a new production meter for the project. The new Badger Analytical Meter links to the meters that we already have to give us real time understanding of our water source use.
In addition to the new production meter relocation, Wai Maoli funds have been used to purchase leak detection equipment. Many of our members experience leaks and discovering the locations of the water loss can be difficult
MIC staff has begun a training program to become proficient in use of the sophisticated pipe location and leak detection correlators. The two-year term of the Wai Maoli funding will allow for this training.
We will be available to offer leak detection services to our members to help them reduce individual water loss on their farms.
The overall benefits of the Wai Maoli assistance will conserve water for the future and offer immediate savings to our farmers.
MIC completed its upgrade to Analytical Meters with all connections reporting on-line by September 30, 2018. Funding for the upgrade was realized with assistance from the DLNR Commission on Water Resource Management
WATER SECURITY GRANT PROGRAM.
Matching funds for the upgrade came from the County of Kaua'i Office of Economic Development
PRODUCT ENRICHMENT PROGRAM GRANT.
All MIC members have received information on how to set up their accounts to begin monitoring. If you have not done so, download the information below and contact your Site Manager and Distribution System Operator, Louisa Wooton, at 808-828-0095 to get on-line.
eyeonwatersignup_poster_bmi1 (1) (pdf)
Download"This is an excellent tool both detecting leaks and for analyzing water use on commercial farms. By using it we found and eliminated several large leaks almost immediately, and can identify new ones overnight. We also got historical water use data back to July 2018. "
"One of our members was on the mainland when I discovered, while reviewing EYE ON WATER, that water usage had suddenly jumped to 146,000 gallons in a 48 hour period. Our system maintenance crew investigated and found a broken 3" pipe. This would not have been discovered in a timely fashion without the Beacon System"