UPDATE: Puainako Water Main Repaired On Schedule

Crews from the county Department of Water Supply completed repairs to a broken water main under Puainako Street shortly before 6 p.m. Wednesday night.

The break in front of Waiakea Intermediate School was discovered at about 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, said Kanani Aton, spokeswoman for the department. It was anticipated that repairs would take until about 6 p.m. to complete.

Aton said today that workers found a hole a little more than an inch in diameter in the 8-inch main. Crews were able to repair the pipe using a full circle clamp.

The ruptured main cut water service to approximately 120 customers, including the intermediate school, some University of Hawaii at Hilo student housing and residents on Puainako Street from Naniakea Street to Kanoelani Street. After-school programs at Waiakea Intermediate were moved to the nearby campus of Waiakea Elementary School.

While initially both lanes of Puainako were blocked, one lane of traffic was later reopened while repairs were made.