KAILUA-KONA — A deep well in Ocean View is offline, the county Department of Water Supply said Thursday.
It is the only county water source serving Hawaiian Ocean View Estates and the Ranchos area in Ka‘u. Many in the area also rely on water catchment systems.
Keith Okamoto, DWS manager-chief engineer, wrote in an email the deep well serves a spigot and standpipe station — it is not a regular water distribution system. He said DWS does not have backup equipment for the deep well, but does have a contract to procure a pump/motor set.
Spigots at the well site will remain open. Okamoto said DWS will haul water from the Waiohinu/Naalehu system to the HOVE tank as long as necessary so the community has continued access to the spigots.
Those who use the spigots are asked to limit water usage to only potable needs.
When the deep well went down remains unclear. Once diagnostics are complete, a clearer timeline for repair should emerge.
Okamoto said even if excavation is needed to repair the well, it will not impede the public’s ability to access the spigots.