There’s good news for North Kona residents worrying about the area’s drinking water supply — water restrictions could be eased as early as the end of this week.
That’s the news from officials with the county Department of Water Supply, who told the Water Board on Tuesday they’ve located a motor for one of four water wells that are currently inoperable in the region. The utility had experienced four of the 14 North Kona wells malfunctioning at the same time, a problem itself, but more so because three of those four wells are close to each other in the north end of North Kona.
Two crucial components — the motor and sensor panel — for the Hualalai deepwell, which went down June 6, should arrive in the next few days, Manager/Chief Engineer Keith Okamoto told the board. The water department located an in-stock motor at a Las Vegas water utility, and the utility agreed to forward it to Hawaii Island, with the local water department sending its motor to Las Vegas when it arrives. The well, originally estimated to be down until September, could be back in business by the end of the week.
Another problematic well, Kalaoa, is back up and running, but hasn’t been hooked into the system pending water quality analysis. That should also be completed this week, said Greg Goodale, operations division chief for the department.
The North Kona region — including Makalei, Kalaoa, Kona Palisades, Keahole, Palamanui, Kohanaiki, Kaloko, Kaloko Mauka and Hualalai — remain under 25% water restrictions. The utility asks that customers refrain from irrigation, washing cars and other unnecessary water uses while the water restriction is in effect.
Once the two wells are operating, the North Kona area is likely to be eased down from the 25% restriction level to 10% conservation, a level currently shared by other North Kona communities.
Okamoto said the utility relies on voluntary participation and heard a lot of criticism for the 25% reduction, but “we want to be conservative. We don’t want to wait until we’re out of water.”
Experience from restrictions in 2017 shows “more grumbles than actual participation,” Okamoto added.
Still, he said, “Some people are doing their part.”
Email Nancy Cook Lauer at ncook-lauer@westhawaiitoday.com.