(BIVN) – Water is once again being pumped from the Nāʻālehu well following Hurricane Lala, but officials are warning customers not to drink the water without boiling it, first.
The Hawaiʻi County Department of Water Supply began pumping its Nāʻālehu well with an emergency generator on Wednesday afternoon. The department said a very limited portion of the waterlines will have water.
“Until further notice, DWS advises Waiohinu – Nāʻālehu water customers to boil all water if used for drinking and cooking purposes if you have water from your taps,” the DWS stated in a public notice. “DO NOT DRINK THE WATER WITHOUT BOILING IT FIRST,” the department emphasized.
According to the Department of Water Supply:
Bring all water used from the tap to a rolling boil for a minimum of one (1) minute and let it cool before using. Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth. washing dishes, and food preparation until further notice. Boiling destroys bacteria and other organisms in the water.
Altematively. customers may add between 1-8 drops of new. unscented liquid bleach with a strength of 5-6% (like Clorox) to each gallon of water for disinfection. Fill a clean container with water, add the chiorine and let the water stand for at least 30 minutes before using. The water will have a slight chlorine odor.
The water department said the precautionary boil water notice will remain in effect until additional water quality testing is completed.
In the wake of Hurricnae Lala, earlier this week officials also issued precautionary boil water notices for the Pahala Water System, the Punaluʻu Water and Sanitation, LLC Public Water System, and the Wood Valley Water and Farm Co-op Public Water System.
