WAILUKU >> Maui County has received approval from the state to begin construction of a water treatment plant that will nearly double the capacity of the existing facility.

The new facility would cost $12 million to $15 million, and construction could begin next summer and take about two years, the Maui News reported Monday.

The existing plant produces about 1.7 million gallons of drinking water a day, but the new model will make about 3.2 million gallons, according to documents filed with the state Office of Environmental Quality Control.

The new plant will be built on approximately 2.6 acres of vacant property near the current treatment plant. Once finished, the old one will be shut down.

The temporary membrane filtration units at the existing plant have been without shelter and exposed to the elements for several years. With future population demands and the need for new treatment units, the county decided to move ahead with the plant, according to the documents.

Maui brush fire still smoldering

Maui firefighters continued to monitor the remnants of a 350-acre brush fire in Kaanapali on Monday.

The fire had been fully contained for the last two days but was still producing smoke in several areas of large timber and had not yet been declared extinguished.

Maui fire officials said crews will continue to make periodic patrols of the area until no smoke is seen for an extended period of time.