Heavy Rains in Hawaii Trigger Boil Water Alert
On Tuesday, the Department of Water for Kauai County, Hawaii, was still recommending some residents boil water following a storm Friday that dumped 17 inches of rain over a 24-hour period at the Hanalei River gage, according to the National Weather Service.
The county provided water tankers with potable water in the communities that experienced service interruptions. Residents were told to bring their own containers and those who had tap water were advised to continuing boiling water as precautionary measure. Fecal coliform or E coli bacteria could possibly be in the water, which might cause diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms. Residents who live on Waipouli and Hauiki roads in the Wailua-Kapa'a area were most affected.
On Sunday, Department of Water officials went door-to-door delivering flyers to affected residents warning them of the possible contamination. The department planned to flush the system, and the problem was expected to be resolved by Tuesday afternoon.
The well in Hanalei was down due to electrical problems and the tanks were empty. There also was a leak in one of the pipelines that allows Princeville Utilities Inc., to feed the department's Hanalei system. The department repaired a pump at the well and corrected a water main break.
The county reported that 17 people had to be evacuated due to flooding from the story and Lydgate Beach ponds were closed due to debris and stormwater runoff.