Cloudy Water Forces Temporary Shutdown of Mahinahina Facility

By Wendy Osher

West Maui, photo by Wendy Osher.

Customers in Honokowai and parts of Napili in West Maui may experience low water pressure tonight and tomorrow morning.  In the interim, customers are asked to conserve water to preserve remaining water in storage tanks.

The low water pressure is due to a shutdown of the Mahinahina water treatment facility by the County of Maui Department of Water Supply.

Jacky Takakura, the department’s Administrative Officer said the facility was shut down due to the high turbidity or cloudiness of the water from the Honolua Ditch system.

Water officials say the recent heavy rains made the water too muddy to go through the filtration system.

It is the second time in as many weeks that the conditions have resulted in a shutdown–the last incident occurred on Monday, December 12, 2011.

DWS personnel plan to restart the filtration process as soon as conditions permit.

Takakura said every attempt will be made to keep up with morning peak consumption.

The Mahinahina facility normally produces approximately two million gallons of water per day.

Customers should call the Water Department service line at 270-7633 only if a water emergency occurs.