Updated at 6:31 p.m., Friday, July 6, 2007
Power outage triggers West Maui water warning
Advertiser Staff
LAHAINA, Maui — Department of Water Supply customers in West Maui are being asked to conserve water throughout the weekend due to a power outage today that affected pumps used to fill storage tanks.The outage occurred at 4:14 a.m. when generators at Maui Electric Co.'s Ma'alaea plant shut down, cutting electricity to 7,000 customers in the Makawao and Hana areas of Upcountry Maui, said dispatch supervisor Ron Vicens. The blackout also affected about 740 customers in the Lahainaluna area of West Maui, including county water facilities.
Power was restored within five to 22 minutes, he said. Vicens said the source of the generator problem is being investigated.
Water department spokeswoman Jacky Takakura said conservation measures are necessary until the storage tanks can be restored to safe water levels.
