(BIVN) – A unexpected loss of a water well serving the Pāpa‘ikou-area has resulted in an Essential Use Only Notice for customers in the affected area.
The Department of Water Supply (DWS) says the affected area includes Pāpa‘ikou, Puʻueopaku, Paukaʻa, and Honoliʻi in the South Hilo district.
“This notice replaces the Water Restriction Notice DWS issued on October 2, 2026,” the water department stated in a Monday news release. “Water usage must be restricted to essential needs only, such as drinking, cooking, and personal hygiene purposes, in order to maintain water storage in tanks for all water customers while DWS repairs a well that unexpectedly went offline.”
The Essential Water Use Only request will remain in effect until water system conditions improve, officials say.
The DWS provided this additional information:
ESSENTIAL WATER USE ONLY
Customers are asked to use water only for essential health and safety needs, including:
- Drinking
- Cooking and food preparation
- Necessary personal hygiene
- Necessary sanitation
- Other essential household or health needs
PLEASE TEMPORARILY AVOID NON-ESSENTIAL WATER USE
Until this notice is lifted, customers are asked to discontinue or postpone nonessential uses of water, including:
- Irrigation and lawn watering
- Washing vehicles or boats
- Filling swimming pools or spas
- Pressure washing
- Other unnecessary or high-volume water use
