(BIVN) – The Hawaiʻi County Department of Water Supply says it is making the repair of the Mountain House Spring infrastructure a top priority, as it works to complete water service restoration in Kaʻū following significant damage from Hurricane Lala in August.
The department (DWS) says Mountain House Spring is a critical water source for the affected area, and a key component of the overall recovery strategy.
While water service has been restored to most customers in the Nā‘ālehu–Wai’ōhinu water system. “However, significant damage to waterlines and other infrastructure has left portions of the system without water,” DWS stated. Water outages remain in Wai’ōhinu Homestead and portions of the South Point Road service areas, representing approximately 60 accounts at this time.
DWS says it has secured a contractor to expedite restoration of the Mountain House Spring source and associated infrastructure.
Based on a preliminary assessment, repairs are expected to include but not be limited to the following:
- Restoration of access roads necessary to reach and repair damaged water system infrastructure;
- Replacement and repair of damaged waterlines, including pipelines up to 12 inches in diameter; and
- Construction of necessary structures to support and elevate replacement waterlines above drainageways that were washed out by floodwaters.
In addition to the Mountain House Spring restoration, significant pipeline and road damage between the two highest-elevation Waiʻōhinu water tanks will need to be addressed.
“These repairs are an important part of restoring the integrity and reliability of the water system following the extensive damage caused by Hurricane Lala,” a water supply news release stated. “DWS will coordinate this work with the Mountain House Spring restoration and other emergency repairs to maximize progress toward restoring reliable water service to all affected customers. Because of the extent of the damage, including washed-out roads, drainageways, and waterlines, some repairs will require substantial construction and coordination. DWS will provide additional information as the repair scope, scheduling, and contractor availability are confirmed.”
In the meantime, the department has deployed potable water tankers to the Waiʻōhinu Homestead and South Point Road areas for customers’ use, and installed temporary waterlines from the DWS Waiʻōhinu Homestead area to the Waiʻōhinu Houselots tank, where feasible.
Customers in the affected water system are still being asked to conserve water during this emergency recovery period, officials say.
