The county Department of Water Supply will resume full operations of the Olinda Water Treatment Facility starting Monday.

The Olinda facility provides water to the Upper Kula and 'Ulupalakua area and is expected to filter approximately 1.5 million gallons per day, the agency said.

By the end of next week, customers may notice a slight change in their water quality because the Olinda plant uses chloramine for disinfection purposes. Chloramine, unlike the chlorine used at the Pi'iholo Water Treatment Facility, has no taste or smell but provides similar protection.

The Department of Water Supply began a temporary switch to chlorine at the end of October because of the near-empty conditions of the Kahakapao and Waikamoi reservoirs. The Pi'iholo facility in Lower Kula has been the source for Upper Kula while the Olinda facility was on reduced service.

Both facilities filter water from the East Maui rain forest. However, the Olinda plant uses microfiltration technology and chloramine for disinfection while the Pi'iholo facility uses direct filtration and chlorine.