Waterline repairs to temporarily disrupt service in Keaʻau on Wednesday

Residents and businesses along Milo Street in Keaʻau, including Keaʻau Middle School and all connected side roads and lane, will experience a temporary water service interruption Wednesday in order for crews to conduct emergency repairs on a leaking water main.

Water service will be shut off from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on June 3, according to the Hawaiʻi County Department of Water Supply.

The work has been rescheduled from a previously announced date.

To assist affected customers during the outage, a water tanker will be available on Milo Street at the dead end west of the Keaʻau-Pahoa Bypass Road.

The department is advising customers to prepare in advance by storing enough drinking water for essential household needs. Property owners are also encouraged to take precautions to protect equipment that relies on water pressure or supply, including disconnecting electrical power to pumps and similar devices that could be damaged when service is interrupted and later restored.

After repairs are completed and water service resumes, crews will flush and clean the water system. During that process, customers may notice cloudy or discolored water, as well as air trapped in plumbing lines. Officials said those conditions are temporary and should clear as water use continues.

Customers with further questions can contact the Department of Water Supply at 808-961-8060 during regular business hours or 808-961-8790 for after-hours emergencies.

Inquiries may also be sent by email to dws@hawaiidws.org.