Update: North Kohala customers asked to reduce water use by 25% due to down wells

9 p.m. Aug. 4 update: A water conservation notice issued for North Kohala customers has been upgraded to a water restriction until further notice.

Hawai‘i County’s Department of Water Supply is asking customers to reduce water use by at least 25% as only one of the three wells that serve the area is operational.

Original post: A water conservation notice was issued for Hawai‘i County’s Department of Water Supply Customers in North Kohala after an unexpected equipment failure.

Residents in the affected areas are advised to reduce water use by at least 10% as only one of three wells serving the region is currently operational. The county has authorized emergency work to repair one of the inoperable wells as soon as possible, Hawai‘i County officials stated in a press release this morning.

Impacted areas include Hāwī to Hala‘ula, including Puakea Bay, Ka‘auhuhu Homesteads, ‘Āinakea Village Subdivision and all customers along Akoni Pule Highway, Mill Road and Ma‘ulili Road.

The water department is asking customers to conserve drinking water. Take short showers, fix leaky plumbing and toilets. Other ways to conserve water also include irrigating efficiently and turning off the faucet while brush teeth.

To learn more ways to conserve water, visit the DWS website at www.hawaiidws.org, call 808-961-8050 during normal business hours or email dws@hawaiidws.org. For after-hours emergencies, call 808-961-8790.