Kauai Department Of Water

What Kauai Department Of Water does

The Kauai Department of Water (DOW) is the County of Kaua'i government department responsible for managing water resources and providing municipal water service across the island of Kaua'i, Hawaii. It is a public utility, not a private company, and operates under the County of Kaua'i within the State of Hawaii. DOW serves 24,468 active water service connections through 419.9 miles of mainline distribution pipe, with an average daily demand of 13.69 million gallons. The customer base consists of island-wide residential households and commercial/industrial accounts, with no third-party distribution channels — service is delivered directly through owned infrastructure.

DOW's product surface is operational rather than commercial: it provides safe drinking water delivery 24/7, monthly consumption-based billing, water quality monitoring compliant with the EPA Lead and Copper Rule (including a complimentary household tap water sampling program in Kilauea, Haena-Wainiha, and Hanalei in partnership with Hawaii State Department of Health), and conservation/emergency preparedness programs. The underlying technology layer includes an Automated Meter Reading (AMR) / Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) system using wireless transponders attached to customer meters, with the multi-year Meter and Transponder Replacement Project having replaced over 18,420 inactive units since October 2022 (~81% complete). Active capital projects include the $23.3 million Kapa'a Homesteads Tanks Project (two 0.5 million-gallon storage tanks, completing 2027), the Hanalei Water Line Improvements Project, the Kūhiō Highway (Hardy-Oxford) Waterline Project, and the Kalaheo Water Systems Improvements Project.

The revenue model is usage-based monthly water charges on residential and commercial accounts; specific rate tiers are not publicly disclosed on the website. Funding for capital improvements is a hybrid of operating revenue, state appropriations (the State of Hawaii Legislature financed roughly one-third of the $23.3M Kapaa project), and contracted construction work led by Hawaiian Dredging Construction Company Inc. (HDCCI). Marketing and community engagement are government-style — public meetings, conservation education (Fix a Leak Week, Project WET festival, WaterSense outreach), and emergency notification via the Wireless Emergency Notification System (WENS). DOW has earned four EPA WaterSense Awards and a 2023 Hawaii Green Business Award, and is governed by an appointed Water Board and led by Manager and Chief Engineer Joe Tait.

Name

Kauai Department Of Water

Legal name

County of Kauaʻi Department of Water

Website

https://kauaiwater.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Kauai Department of Water is a county government water utility providing municipal water service to 24,468 residential and commercial connections across the island of Kaua'i through 419.9 miles of mainline pipe, with operations including AMR/AMI metering, billing, water quality monitoring, and capital infrastructure upgrades.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Municipal Water Utility Services

NAICS

Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (22131), Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (221310), Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213)

SIC

Water Supply (4941)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAIACAG

Water Supply & Wastewater Utilities Administration

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Local/Municipal Government Administration

Keywords

• Municipal water supply
• Potable water distribution
• Water utility billing
• Water infrastructure operations
• Water conservation programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Lihue

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Others

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Kauai Department of Water supplies potable municipal water to residential and commercial customers across the island of Kauai through an extensive network of mainlines, reservoirs, and treatment assets. It also provides metered billing, water-quality testing, conservation programs, emergency preparedness, and project-level infrastructure upgrades such as meter transponder replacement and new storage tanks.

Product overview

Kauai Department Of Water operates as a county government water utility providing water distribution services to the island of Kaua'i. The department manages 24,468 water service connections across 419.9 miles of mainline pipes with an average daily demand of 13.69 million gallons. Core services include water distribution, billing services, water quality monitoring, conservation programs, and emergency preparedness. The department conducts major infrastructure projects including the Meter and Transponder Replacement Project (upgrading AMR/AMI systems), the Kapa'a Homesteads Tanks Project ($23.3 million, completing 2027), the Hanalei Water Line Improvements Project, the Kuhio Highway Waterline Project, and the Kalaheo Water Systems Improvements Project. Community engagement is maintained through public meetings on capital infrastructure and proposed rate increases.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Potable Water Distribution Service Continuous metered potable water delivery to residential and commercial service connections across the island of Kauai, governed by the County Board of Water Supply.
• Water Service Billing and Account Management Metered billing, online account access, payment processing, and high-water-usage alert services for active water customers on Kauai.
• Water Quality Testing and Free Tap Sampling Program Water-quality monitoring and complimentary tap water sampling offered to customers to confirm the safety of their drinking water.
• New Water Service Setup and Account Transfer Onboarding service that establishes new residential or commercial water service connections and processes ownership or tenant transfers.
• Water Conservation Programs Conservation initiatives, customer education, and rebate-style programming designed to reduce per-capita water use across Kauai.
• Emergency Preparedness and Response Services Emergency planning, hurricane and drought response coordination, and customer-facing preparedness resources to maintain continuity of water service.

Quantifiable outcome

• 81% complete with 18,420+ transponders replaced as part of AMI modernization
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Hawaii State Department of Health (DOH)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2026Partnership for complimentary household tap water sampling program in Kilauea, Haena-Wainiha, and Hanalei. Program conducted in compliance with EPA Lead and Copper Rule. DOH works with DOW to monitor lead exposure risk levels in individual households.
• Meter Equipment ManufacturerscoreTechnology or IntegrationOngoing partnership for supply of transponder units for the Meter and Transponder Replacement Project. Since October 2022, over 18,420 inactive transponder units have been replaced. Project is approximately 81% complete.
• Princeville Utilities Company Inc. (PUCI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDuring the April 4, 2025 pump motor failure at the Maka Ridge Pump Station, PUCI provided water to impacted areas of Hanalei and Anini Beach, maintaining continuous water supply during the emergency repair period.
• Derrick's Well Drilling & Pump Services LLCcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEmergency pump replacement services during the Hanalei pump failure. Company prioritized the project, mobilized quickly, and provided the replacement pump and appurtenances to restore the Hanalei Water System in a short timeframe.
• Hawaiian Dredging Construction Company Inc. (HDCCI)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPrimary contractor for multiple water infrastructure projects including the Kapaa Homesteads Tanks Project ($23.3 million), Kalaleo Water Systems Improvements Project, and Kuhio Highway (Hardy-Oxford) Waterline Project. Also performing utility work on Kawaihau Road.
• National Tropical Botanical Garden (NTBG)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for native Hawaiian plant talk story event held at Koloa Public and School Library. NTBG provides expertise on water-wise native Hawaiian plants for xeriscaping education. Free native Hawaiian plants distributed to attendees.
• Kauai Emergency Management Agency (KEMA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for disaster preparedness presentations titled 'Disaster Preparedness: Ready, Set, Go!' KEMA is the authoritative agency for emergency preparedness on Kauai. Collaboration includes hurricane season preparation and community education on emergency response.
• North Shore GiveminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHost of Community Preparedness Forum at Princeville Public Library. Collaborative effort with KEMA and CERT to provide essential information on disaster preparedness including hurricanes, wildfires, and local hazards.
• Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner in Community Preparedness Forum providing information on emergency preparedness and safety for Kauai residents.
• Kauai Economic Opportunity Inc. (KEO)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for emergency water preparedness through KEO's meal delivery programs. 20-liter water storage containers distributed to approximately 140 homebound kupuna via Meals on Wheels, 100 kupuna at congregate meal sites, and Emergency Shelter and Transitional Housing clients during May 2025.
• Aqua Engineers, Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for the Make a Splash with Project WET festival. Conducted the 'Reclaim Water' activity where students performed pH testing on various liquids, teaching water reclamation and quality concepts.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Essential Utilities (Aqua America): Large diversified water and natural gas utility serving ~5 million people across 10 states. Comparable regulated utility business model with active AMI/AMR modernization programs and small-system acquisition strategy that mirrors many Kauaʻi-style service areas.
• Veolia Water Technologies & Solutions: Global water services and technology provider operating regulated and O&M contracts for municipal utilities. Comparable as a counterparty for advanced metering, water treatment, and infrastructure services that Kauaʻi DOW procures.
• American Water Works Company: Largest publicly traded U.S. water and wastewater utility, serving ~14 million people across 14 states. Comparable in regulated rate-base business model, AMI deployment, and capital-intensive infrastructure replacement, though much larger and geographically diversified.
• California Water Service Group: Investor-owned water utility serving ~2 million customers across California, Hawaii, Washington, and New Mexico. Notably also operates in Hawaii, making it directly comparable on regulatory environment while offering a broader investment-grade benchmark.

Direct peers

• Maui Department of Water Supply: County water utility serving the island of Maui with comparable scale, island-geography constraints, and infrastructure upgrade needs. Operates under the same Hawaii state regulatory framework and faces similar climate-vulnerability and tourism-demand dynamics as Kauaʻi DOW.
• Honolulu Board of Water Supply: County-level water utility serving the island of Oʻahu with ~170,000+ customer accounts and a multi-decade capital improvement program. Directly comparable as a Hawaii-based municipal water utility operating under similar state regulatory and operational conditions.
• County of Hawaiʻi Department of Water Supply: County water utility for the Big Island of Hawaiʻi, serving a comparable mix of residential and commercial customers with similar AMI/AMR programs, conservation outreach, and capital project pipelines under shared state oversight.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/187286144664429
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kauai-department-of-water

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kauai Department Of Water