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The Maui News
Maui County has completed two rounds of water testing in areas of Kula with no results exceeding state or federal safe drinking water standards, the county said Saturday.
However, the unsafe water advisory remains in effect pending the results of additional testing now underway. The third round of testing must be completed and the water verified to be safe before the water advisory is amended for Kula water customers, under a process the county Department of Water Supply developed with the state Department of Health and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The latest testing included water samples taken from inside numerous fire hydrants, with results showing the presence of lead attributed to water in those fire hydrants. The county said water pressure within the distribution system prevents the lead from migrating back into the system or reaching customers' homes and businesses. In an abundance of caution, the Department of Water Supply is flushing the fire hydrants and is conducting an additional round of testing to verify the distribution system is free of lead and the water is safe to drink.
Once it gets the final results, the department will examine the unsafe water advisory and provide additional guidance on what affected communities may safely return to consuming their county-supplied water. Until the advisory is amended or canceled, affected Kula water customers should avoid using tap water for drinking and cooking and should continue drinking only bottled water or using sterilized containers to fill water from county water tankers for consumption and hygiene needs, the county said.
Potable water is available Upcountry at Crater Road, Copp Road, Kula School near the cafeteria, Kula Community Center, Kula Lodge, Rice Park, Ching Store and Ulupalakua Ranch Store.
The advisory was first issued on Aug. 11 as a precautionary measure following wildfires in Olinda and Kula. Some structures in the upper Kula water system were destroyed by the fire, and some areas in the water system lost pressure. These issues may have caused harmful contaminants, including benzene and other volatile organic chemicals, to enter the system, the county said.
Residents are advised to limit use of hot water, limit shower time/bathing (use lukewarm water and ventilate area), use a dishwasher to wash dishes and use air dry setting, wash clothing in cold water, avoid using clothes dryers (dry laundry outdoors), avoid taking baths, avoid using hot tubs or swimming pools, avoid using ice from automatic ice makers and use proper ventilation when using water indoors.
For a map of the unsafe water advisory, with links to all laboratory results by location, visit www.mauicounty.gov.