Recent rain and completion of a backup water source have allowed the Hawai'i County Department of Water Supply to downgrade a water restriction notice posted May 31 for Waimea town to Kawaihae, upper Pa'auilo and Ahulaloa in the South Kohala and Hamakua districts.

The restriction called for a mandatory 25 percent reduction in water use due to prolonged dry conditions.

Residents are still being asked to voluntarily cut daily water use by 10 percent until the inflows into reservoirs stabilize. Agricultural users are urged to irrigate from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. only to reduce water loss due to evaporation.