Michael S. Regan 16th Administrator, United States Environmental Protection Agency | Official Website
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has concluded its Drinking Water and Wastewater mission in Lahaina, Hawaiʻi, as part of a multi-agency emergency response to the 2023 Maui wildfires. This initiative aimed to restore essential water services in wildfire-affected areas.
"It was our honor to serve alongside the Lahaina community to help restore, rebuild and repair drinking water and wastewater systems following the devastating wildfires that swept across the island of Maui,” said EPA Deputy Administrator Janet McCabe. “Access to safe drinking water is vital to protecting public health and the environment and getting this special community back on its feet. I want to thank all our local, state, and federal partners for their crucial partnership and collaboration, and look forward to continuing to work closely with them."
Following the August 2023 wildfires, EPA provided technical assistance at the request of Maui County and the State of Hawai‘i under FEMA's direction. The agency coordinated efforts with both the Maui County Department of Environmental Management and Department of Water Supply.
From January 4, 2024, over seven months, EPA tested drinking water quality in 1,308 lateral service lines connecting water mains to properties with burned structures. Contaminated or damaged lines were isolated from main distribution lines for future replacement. Additionally, EPA sampled 135 fire hydrants, isolated 589 contaminated laterals, and inspected nearly 98,000 feet of sewer lines in Lahaina.
Maui County continues using data from EPA’s operations to determine whether water is potable in areas under an Unsafe Water Advisory.
“EPA has worked closely with county, state, and community leaders since the fires to first clean up hazardous waste, then help restore drinking water and wastewater services to Lahaina. We have been honored to do our part in getting families back home,” said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Martha Guzman. “EPA will continue to support recovery efforts through our Sustainability Advisor and will remain committed to our local and state partners as Maui progresses toward full recovery.”
Throughout its response efforts, EPA engaged in community outreach across Maui by answering questions and providing information at weekly public meetings.
Recognizing Lahaina's cultural significance, EPA employed cultural advisers who accompanied field teams to identify cultural artifacts. Their involvement ensured preservation of cultural history during operations while also guiding outreach efforts.
Although emergency missions are complete, EPA continues working on long-term recovery through a Sustainability Advisor assigned by FEMA. This advisor collaborates with local entities for rebuilding communities resiliently against future climate impacts.
Residents can access safe drinking water information on Maui County’s website or by calling (808) 270-7550. Additional sampling results are available on the Hawaiʻi Department of Health Environmental Monitoring Data Portal.
For more details:
- Visit: epa.gov/maui-wildfires
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