October 27, 2010 – Honokaa, Hawaii

The county water department activated the Honoka’a well after their Haina Well went down October 14th due to a pump failure. Water officials say there may have been some concern over whether or not the Honoka’a well was safe – but according to a water supply press release, “The Department continues to regularly conduct bacteriological analyses since the onset of use. The results do not show any evidence of bacteria or microbial contamination and it is not necessary to boil water. Additionally, the turbidity of the water is normal. Because of these results, the Department is confident the water is safe to drink. ”

PRESS RELEASE, Department of Water Supply:

HAINA WELL BREAKDOWN AND EMERGENCY USE OF THE HONOKA’A WELL
Facility Information Sheet

Overview
In operation since 1982, the Haina Well went down on October 14, 2010 due to a pump failure. To ensure continual water service to area customers, the Honoka’a Well was activated as an emergency back up water source that same day within a few hours of the breakdown. Water quality tests conducted since the onset of emergency use of this well show the water is safe to drink. The Department of Water Supply (DWS) communicated to the State Department of Health Safe Drinking Water Branch throughout the emergency to ensure transition between water sources met the standards of the Safe Drinking Water Act.

Backup Source Information: Honoka’a Well
Located on the DWS Hospital Tank site, the State Department of Land and Natural Resources is in the final stages of outfitting this well, including Department of Health approvals for regular use of this well.

Health Information
On October 14, 2010 the Department published a notice to the area customers about the quality of the Honoka’a Well water as required by the State Department of Health. This notice included required language that may have caused undue concern to our customers. The Department continues to regularly conduct bacteriological analyses since the onset of use. The results do not show any evidence of bacteria or microbial contamination and it is not necessary to boil water. Additionally, the turbidity of the water is normal. Because of these results, the Department is confident the water is safe to drink. If there were any real concerns, advisories would have been issued through Civil Defense and other media.

Haina Well Repair Status
Operations Technicians estimate the Haina Well pump to be repaired by late November 2010. The parts for repair have been ordered and should arrive mid November 2010.

About the Department of Water Supply
The Department of Water Supply is a semi-autonomous agency of the County of Hawaii which operates by rules and regulations adopted by the Water Board. As a semi-autonomous agency, the Department operates and maintains its water systems with revenues generated wholly through water sales. The primary function of the Department is to provide safe domestic water service through its 24 water systems and 67 sources scattered throughout the island. The individual water systems are not interconnected except in the more densely populated districts of South Hilo and Kona. The Department continually strives to provide dependable, high quality, potable water at a reasonable cost.

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