Volcano Village homes get free rainwater diverters after Kilauea ashfall

Thirty Volcano-area households got free rainwater diverters that can keep ash-laced runoff out of their catchment tanks, a practical fix for homes that depend on roof water. Ten teams of licensed plumbers and apprentices installed the systems on June 20, 2026, serving houses affected by ash and tephra from Kīlauea’s ongoing eruption.

The diverters temporarily send the first runoff away from storage tanks when volcanic ash is on rooftops, so contaminated water does not enter household supplies. That matters in Volcano Village, where many residents rely on catchment as their main source of water and cannot wait for a larger county or state infrastructure fix every time ash falls. The installations were free to participating households through a partnership that included Vibrant Hawaii, Plumbers and Fitters UA Local 675, the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials, local plumbing contractors and the Hawaii Community Foundation.

The project also matches the public-health guidance already in place for catchment users. Hawaii County Civil Defense advises residents to temporarily disconnect gutters feeding catchment tanks until volcanic hazards have passed and ash and debris have been washed off the roof, out of the gutters and out of the tank. The University of Hawaii rainwater catchment program gives the same basic warning: keep the system disconnected until rain has flushed the roof and ash deposits are gone. USGS says Kīlauea has been in an episodic lava-fountaining eruption in Halemaumau crater since Dec. 23, 2024, and by June 2026 the eruption had reached about episode 49, with episode 50 forecast later that month.

Janice Ikeda, chief executive of Vibrant Hawaii, said the effort reflected communities caring for one another and resilience being built through relationships and people willing to share time and expertise. For homeowners who missed this round, the practical message is the same: keep gutters disconnected after ashfall, clean roofs and gutters before reconnecting and use a diverter or other first-flush setup if the house depends on catchment. Retail first-flush diverter hardware is listed from about $39.99 to $127.50 before installation, and a Hawaii plumbing cost survey puts residential plumbing labor at $121.59 an hour plus parts and materials.