Ocean View Estates well repairs end water-use restrictions in Ka‘ū

Emergency repairs to the Hawaiian Ocean View Estates well in Ka‘ū were completed Thursday, July 2, and the County of Hawaii immediately lifted the essential-needs-only notice so normal water use could resume. The update was posted at 3 p.m. that day, ending a restriction that had been in place since June 15.

For 17 days, the County of Hawaii limited use of the public water spigots in Hawaiian Ocean View Estates to essential needs only, including drinking, cooking and personal hygiene. The restriction was necessary while the Ocean View well was down and crews worked on repairs.

During the outage, the Department of Water Supply hauled water from Nā‘ālehu to the Ocean View tank to keep service moving in the remote Ka‘ū community. The standpipe facility used by commercial water haulers remained closed during the repair work and is scheduled to reopen Monday, July 6.

County audit material identifies the Department of Water Supply as a semi-autonomous agency that manages, controls and operates county waterworks, with 23 individual water systems across the island serving nine districts from baseyards in Hilo, Kona, Waimea and Ka‘ū.

County figures put the 2018 Kīlauea eruption's damage to water infrastructure at about $40 million, including the loss of about 14.5 miles of waterlines in lower Puna. The Federal Emergency Management Agency is reimbursing about $30 million of that damage assessment, or 75 percent, with the state covering the local match.

Residents in Ocean View who need routine help can call the Department of Water Supply at 808-961-8050 during business hours. After-hours emergencies go to 808-961-8790, and the department also lists dws@hawaiidws.org for email contact.