Hawaiian Electric, Department of Water Supply continue recovery efforts after Lala

Hawaiian Electric reports that power restoration is in the final stages on Hawaiʻi Island as crews prepare to travel to Kauaʻi following Hurricane Lowell.

With support from Southern California Edison crews through the Western Region Mutual Assistance Group, all remaining customers in Wood Valley on Hawaiʻi Island regained electricity yesterday. Restoration plans are in place for the remaining customers still without power on Hawaiʻi Island.

By Thursday, Hawaiian Electric and Southern California Edison crews will mobilize to support Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative with recovery efforts.

The first Hawaiian Electric team will arrive on Kauaʻi tomorrow to coordinate with Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative and assess what personnel, supplies, and equipment are needed. Trucks and other equipment are scheduled to arrive by barge on Friday.

The companies are also collaborating to reposition Southern California Edison resources from Hawaiʻi Island and welcome new personnel from California to Kauaʻi. Southern California Edison personnel on Hawaiʻi Island will be relieved of storm response efforts and will return to California tomorrow.

The last time Hawaiian Electric provided large-scale assistance to Kauaʻi was after Hurricane Iniki in 1992, which devastated the island’s electric grid. Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative aided Hawaiian Electric on Hawaiʻi Island following the aftermath of Tropical Storm Iselle in 2014.

Some Nāʻālehu, Waiʻōhinu customers still without water

In a Hurricane Lala recovery plan update, the Department of Water Supply reports that approximately 97% of customers now have water service. Crews are continuing to restore water service throughout the Nāʻālehu-Waiʻōhinu water system.

Recovery efforts are focused on restoring water service to the approximately 3% of customers who remain without service in the Waiʻōhinu Homestead and portions of South Point Road service areas.

Crews have restored water service to customers farther along South Point Road, marking continued progress in restoring service throughout the affected area. As service restoration continues, increased water use has placed additional demand on the South Point tank, causing storage levels to decline significantly.

Under normal operating conditions, both Hāʻo Spring and Mountain House Spring supply water to the South Point tank. Currently, however, Hāʻo Spring is the only source available to refill the tank due to significant damage to the waterline from Mountain House Spring.

To help maintain adequate water service to all customers while repairs continue, the Department of Water Supply must supplement the filling of the South Point tank with potable water hauled by water trucks from another water system.

Customers served by the South Point tank are strongly encouraged to limit their water use to help maintain adequate water storage. The Department of Water Supply may also install flow restriction devices, as necessary, to help maintain water levels in its storage tanks while emergency repairs continue.

Mountain House Spring

Restoring Mountain House Spring to the water system is a top priority since it is a critical water source for the affected area, and returning this source to service is a key component of the overall recovery strategy.

The Department of Water Supply’s contractor has begun assessing road access and the work necessary to reach and repair damaged sections of the waterline from the Mountain House Spring source.

Based on a preliminary assessment, the work will include significant repairs to infrastructure damaged by Hurricane Lala. Repairs are expected to include, but not be limited to, the following:

• Restoration of access roads necessary to reach and repair damaged water system infrastructure
• Replacement and repair of damaged waterlines, including pipelines up to 12 inches in diameter
• Construction of necessary structures to support and elevate replacement waterlines above drainageways that were washed out by floodwaters

Waiʻōhinu pipeline

In addition to the Mountain House Spring restoration, the Department of Water Supply continues to address significant pipeline and road damage in the Waiʻōhinu area.

These repairs are an important part of restoring the integrity and reliability of the water system following the extensive damage caused by Hurricane Lala.

Due to washed-out roads and damaged lines, some repairs will require substantial construction and coordination. However, the Department of Water Supply will coordinate this work with the Mountain House Spring restoration and other emergency repairs to maximize progress toward restoring reliable water service to all affected customers.

Temporary water supply

There are temporary measures to assist customers who remain without water service, including:

• Deployment of potable water tankers to the Waiʻōhinu Homestead area and the Island Mart parking lot in Nāʻālehu for customers’ use
• Installation of temporary waterlines from the Waiʻōhinu Homestead area to the Waiʻōhinu Houselots tank, where feasible.

Water conservation and quality

Customers in the affected water system are asked to conserve water during this emergency recovery period. Water conservation measures include:

• Refraining from irrigation or landscape watering
• Refraining from vehicle washing
• Repairing leaks on private plumbing systems

Additional water-use restrictions may be implemented as necessary to help maintain available water supplies and system stability while emergency repairs are underway.

The precautionary boil water notice remains in effect.