Molokai water shortage could become crisis

WAILUKU - Maui County officials flew to Molokai on Saturday to warn Kaunakakai and Kalae residents that if they don't conserve water, a shortage could become a crisis.

Residents of the area have been asked to limit their water use to only what they need for basic health, safety and hygiene since Friday, after the well servicing the area shut down due to a mechanical malfunction.

But county officials were concerned that residents weren't taking the warning seriously, and held a public meeting in Kaunakakai on Saturday to spread more information.

"If people did not severely cut back on their water use, we were headed for an emergency situation," said county spokeswoman Mahina Martin.

The remaining water supply was at risk of dwindling to the point that there would not be enough to supply Molokai General Hospital, dialysis services or fire protection, she said.

About 1,275 water meters serving homes and businesses in the area are affected.

Liberty Dialysis is making arrangements to transport all of the island's 28 dialysis patients to Maui or Oahu to ensure they are not at risk during the shortage. Dialysis machines require a significant amount of water to operate.

Residents are asked not to do any outdoor irrigation, except what's necessary for subsistence farming, and to limit clothes washing or go outside of the area for laundry and showers. Some residents have already left the area to stay with friends and family in other parts of the island, Martin said.

The county has stationed a water tanker at the intersection of Ala Malama Avenue and Kukui Place in Kaunakakai where residents can fill personal containers, and Saturday the county added another tanker of nonpotable water, Martin said. A bulletin board has also been posted at the intersection to provide updates on the situation.

About 200 residents attended the Saturday meeting that included Water Director Jeff Eng, County Council Chairman Danny Mateo, Martin and other county officials.

Additional workers have been flown to Molokai to assist in repairs to the pump at the county's Kualapuu Well, and crews have been asked to work through the weekend, Martin said. She said the county expected the well would be on-line by the end of the week, or sooner if workers discover the needed repairs are not extensive.

The county had been using water from a well operated by the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands while the Kualapuu Well was off-line for scheduled repairs. But the DHHL well broke down Thursday, Martin said.

The county has reached an agreement to use a second DHHL well during the shortage, but the water from that well won't be enough if residents don't conserve, Martin said.

The county decided to accelerate repairs to its own well, because it appears the repairs to the DHHL well will take more time, Martin said.