Commission approves Waimea deep monitoring well permit to improve aquifer data in Kauai area

HONOLULU — The Commission on Water Resource Management on May 20 approved a well construction permit for a Waimea deep monitoring well sited at Hāpuna Beach Park on Kauai. The well will be used for long‑term aquifer monitoring; the applicant is drilling on state land and the project has obtained required SMA and conservation district permits.

Lede: The commission approved the construction permit for a deep monitoring well to gather aquifer condition data in the Waimea aquifer system; staff said the permit is for monitoring only and not for consumptive use, and they exempted the well from the usual quarter‑to‑half aquifer depth limitation because of the monitoring need.

Nut graf: Committee staff and the applicant told commissioners the Waimea aquifer currently has a sustainable yield of about 16 million gallons per day (MGD), with roughly 36 production wells and current reported production approximately 13.974 MGD (12‑month moving average as of January 2025). Staff said improved deep monitoring is needed because current reported pumpage approaches the sustainable yield threshold used in designation policy.

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