Broken pump forces S. Kona water conservation

A burned-out motor that caused the breakdown of a South Kona well is causing the county Department of Water Supply to issue health advisories and a voluntary water conservation.

Water Supply discovered March 29 the motor problem with Keei Well D on the mauka side of Hawaii Belt Highway. Initial analysis indicated the motor was burned out and needed to be replaced. An emergency bid to do the repairs was put out April 3, and Water Supply is executing a contract with the pump contractor to begin work, said Kanani Aton, the department’s spokeswoman.

It could be up to nine months before repairs are executed, the county said.

Aton did not know the estimated cost of the repairs, which could not be obtained from the county Department of Finance because Monday was a furlough day. Nor could she provide as of press time the size of the well and the number of customers it serves. She referred those inquiries to Kawika Uyehara, of Water Supply’s Engineering Division, who could not be reached Monday.

“The contractor has mobilized to the site and has scheduled the pump to be pulled by (Monday). Once the pump is pulled out of the well, the contractor will assess the motor, determine what repairs are needed, and execute the repairs. We should have more concrete information for the repair timeline, cost and such available soon,” Aton said. “It is likely that a mainland manufacturer will do the repair, as a local vendor probably does not exist here in Hawaii. Based upon past experiences like this, we have learned our request for repairs is placed in the manufacturer’s queue of work. Although ours is an emergency repair, it doesn’t necessarily cancel out the importance of the other repairs that predate ours.”

Currently, the estimated timeline for the repairs is nine months, which may be shorten or lengthened depending on what’s required, she added.

The department also warned of high salt levels in the South Kona water system. Sodium levels for the two alternative sources, particularly Well A, are higher than the primary well. Residents, especially those on a sodium-restricted diet, may wish to consult their physicians regarding the change. Water from the Keei Wells meet all National Primary Drinking Water Standards and is safe to drink. There are no state or federal maximum levels for sodium in drinking water, Aton said.

Water Supply is pumping water from Keei Wells A and C as emergency backup sources until repairs are completed. Typically, Well A is the first well to be pumped when the South Kona system needs waters. Well C is used second if Well A cannot keep up with the amount of water consumers are using. Areas provided with water from the Keei Wells include: Mamalahoa Highway from Napoopoo Road, south to Hookena; Middle Keei Road from Mamalahoa Highway to the intersection with Napoopoo Road; Painted Church Road; and Keala O Keawe Road from Mamalahoa Highway to Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park, Aton said.

“When Keei Wells C and A are pumped, the pumped water goes into the adjacent water reservoir for that particular well. From that reservoir, water is then boosted uphill to the water reservoirs at higher elevations,” she said. “When C and A are pumped at the same time the water is delivered into the system and then are ‘blended’ in the higher elevation reservoirs. Thus, depending on where (people) live and which Keei Wells are pumped, they could be either receiving water primarily from Keei Wells C, A, or a blend of C and A.”

Water Supply issued March 30 a conservation notice, calling for a voluntary 10 percent reduction of water use in affected areas. Consumers are asked to wash only full loads of laundry or dishes at a time, check faucets and pipes for leaks, not let water run when washing, shaving or brushing teeth, reduce showering times and irrigate at night.