Water restrictions remained in place Tuesday, the day after a North Kona well failed for an as-yet unknown reason. Water restrictions remained in place Tuesday, the day after a North Kona well failed for an as-yet unknown reason. ADVERTISING Department
Water restrictions remained in place Tuesday, the day after a North Kona well failed for an as-yet unknown reason.
Department of Water Supply officials imposed the 25 percent water usage reduction after noticing water supplies in the remaining tanks dropping quickly, spokeswoman Kanani Aton said. A 25 percent restriction allows for essential water use — bathing and washing dishes, for example — but officials do ask that showers be shorter and laundry and dishwasher loads be full if they must be done during the restriction period, Aton said.
The department’s Queen Liliuokalani Trust well failed on Monday, Aton said.
“It’s because of the customers’ effort to restrict water last night we were able to keep up” with water demand, Aton said. “We’re just watching the system at this time.”
The department issued an emergency repair contract and began pulling up the pump Tuesday. Once employees see what caused the pump to fail, the department will issue a repair time line, Aton added.
The restriction notice is for neighborhoods, side streets and subdivisions connecting to Kaiminani Drive, Hina-Lani Street and upper Palani Road, those along Mamalahoa Highway from Keopu Heights to Kona Ocean View and Puuakala Road, and along Queen Kaahumanu Highway, headed north from Kealakehe Parkway to Keahole Airport, including Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority, the Keahole Ag Park and all commercial and industrial areas off the highway.
The department is providing fire hydrants mauka of the West Hawaii Civic Center and at the intersection of Keanalehu Street and Puohulihuli Street above Kealakehe High School.