KAILUA-KONA — The county Department of Water Supply on Tuesday officially downgraded the mandatory 25 percent water usage reduction for North Kona, in effect since Jan. 12, 2017, to a 10 percent voluntary water conservation, according to a news release.
KAILUA-KONA — The county Department of Water Supply on Tuesday officially downgraded the mandatory 25 percent water usage reduction for North Kona, in effect since Jan. 12, 2017, to a 10 percent voluntary water conservation, according to a news release.
The news comes nearly three weeks after contractors finished repairing the Keopu deep well, reducing the number of offline water sources in the region to three.
“The department feels confident that the water needs of the community will be met with the 10 (percent) voluntary conservation in effect and will continue to monitor the water system and make adjustments as necessary,” the release says.
DWS thanked the community for its compliance with restrictions that consistently, or at times, included limiting all water usage to basic living necessities, a halt on all non-commercial irrigation later amended with the exception of “precious plants” and the washing of personal vehicles.
Deep wells at Keahuolu and Hualalai, both of which were repaired in 2017 only to fail again shortly after because of premature submersible equipment failure, remain inoperative. The deep well at Waiaha is last on the department’s priority list, as its repair will require fishing out equipment lost after an excavation cable snapped during the summer.
No time lines exist for the return of any of the three wells.
