Water Preparedness for Public Safety Power Shutoffs

NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AFFECTED AREAS:
NORTH KONA – MĀKĀLEI TO KEAUHOU
SOUTH KOHALA – KAWAIHAE HARBOR AND INDUSTRIAL AREA TO MAUNA LANI RESORT; WAIMEA TOWN TO WAIMEA AIRPORT

The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a Red Flag Warning on July 31, 2025, through 6 p.m. on August 1, 2025. Based on this warning a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) MAY be implemented in communities with high exposure to wildfire risks.

The Department of Water Supply (DWS) strongly urges its customers and those who depend on a continuous supply of DWS water to review their personal situations and prepare accordingly. Customers should have alternate sources of potable water and enough supply to meet their essential needs during a prolonged power outage that disrupts DWS service.

DWS uses backup generators at a limited number of well sites, but these emergency generators CANNOT fully replicate Hawaiian Electric’s (HECO’s) power grid. An extended power outage could diminish or deplete portions of DWS’ water systems and leave customers with low pressure or no
water. In order to prevent this, DWS will likely need to restrict or ration potable water for fire protection, drinking, cooking, and personal hygiene purposes only. Car washing, irrigation, and nonessential uses of water should be suspended, in the areas noted above, until conditions have returned to normal.

Ways to safely store drinking water are listed in the Water Emergency Preparedness guide available under the “Community” drop-down menu option on the Department’s website, www.hawaiidws.org.
Future water messages regarding this will be issued by either DWS or the Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency. To reach the DWS, please call (808) 961-8050 during normal business hours, (808) 961-8790 for after-hour emergencies, or email: dws@hawaiidws.org.

This is your Hawaiʻi County Department of Water Supply.