Hawaii Water Resources Act of 2005

The Hawaii Water Resources Act of 2005 authorizes the federal government to help fund three major water infrastructure projects across the islands of Oahu, Hawaii, and Maui. These projects focus on expanding the local water supply by turning seawater into drinking water in Honolulu and increasing the use of recycled water for irrigation and environmental purposes in Kealakehe and Lahaina.

For residents, these initiatives are designed to improve water security and sustainability by reducing the demand on limited freshwater aquifers. The law limits the federal government’s contribution to 25% of the total costs and requires local authorities to handle the ongoing operation and maintenance of the new facilities.