MAUI, Hawaii — The aftermath of a devastating wildfire last year in Maui has left a lasting mark on Lahaina’s vital infrastructure, prompting urgent efforts to restore essential services crucial for community well-being.

Clean water is fundamental to daily life, but the wildfire that torched over 2,000 properties dealt a severe blow to Lahaina’s water and sewage systems.

Since the wildfire, officials have been working to repair and restore the damaged infrastructure.

Kimo Landgraf, director of water supply, highlighted the ongoing challenges: “They’re still under the unsafe water advisory, which means you cannot drink the water and you cannot cook with it.”

Landgraf emphasized the difficulty in assessing the full extent of the damage caused by the fire, necessitating extensive testing and the replacement of approximately 29 miles of water lines.

Amid the reconstruction efforts, crews are actively replacing contaminated water pipes and inspecting sewer systems. The goal is to fully restore the wastewater infrastructure by January 2025, a task Shayne Agawa, director of environmental management, acknowledged as daunting due to the toxins released by the fire.

“The fire created a lot of toxins from burning debris, impacting our sewer treatment facility and compliance with state health regulations,” Agawa explained.

Beyond the technical complexities, there is a personal stake in Lahaina’s recovery for many officials involved.

“My wife and I lost about a total of nine family homes in Lahaina,” Agawa said. “It’s very taxing emotionally, but we have to keep our composure and continue to serve all the people of Maui County.”

Mayor Richard Bissen provided reassurance that progress is being made towards restoring safe drinking water by mid-August and fully recovering the wastewater system by January 2025.

UPDATE As of August 7, 2024, Maui County officials say the water in Lahaina is now 100% safe for use.