Maui County is obliged to provide water and sewage service to Moloka'i residents after subsidiaries of Molokai Properties Ltd. cease to operate the utilities after Aug. 31, the state Attorney General's Office said yesterday.

The department's statement followed remarks by Maui County officials that characterized the Attorney General's position differently. Maui County officials said a deputy attorney general, at a hearing on the Moloka'i water situation, said the state does not have the authority to force the county to provide water and sewer service.

The state Department of Health earlier ordered Molokai Properties Ltd. to continue to operate the utilities, Wai'ola O Molokai, Molokai Public Utilities and Mosco, for three months past the parent company's declared Aug. 31 deadline to shut down water and sewer services to residents of Kaulapuu, Maunaloa, Kipu and Kaluakoi.