Water conservation called for in West Maui
Control system failure shuts down treatment plantLAHAINA -- West Maui residents are being asked to conserve water today, Saturday and Sunday after a control system failure shut down the Mahinahina Water Treatment Facility.
Kapalua and Kaanapali residents get their water supply from private companies and are not affected.
The Mahinahina plant normally provides 25 percent of the drinking water for West Maui, which has been consuming on average about 6 million gallons per day, according to the Department of Water Supply.
The water treatment plant shut down this morning, and water personnel were working to restore electrical and computer controls. With the facility out of service, the water department can't maintain safe water levels in West Maui storage tanks, water officials said.
"Customers are asked to use water only as needed for health and safety purposes in order to extend the supply available in the storage tanks until water can be restored to normal operating levels," officials said.
