20-inch main break in Waimanalo prompts road, school closure

WAIMANALO (HawaiiNewsNow) – Board of Water Supply crews are working to repair a 20-inch transmission main break in Waimanalo Friday morning that has prompted several closures.
It’s unclear exactly how many customers are impacted, but BWS said the break is affecting the Waimanalo community from Mekia Street to Sea Life Park.
The state Department of Education announced Waimanalo Elementary and Intermediate School is closed to students and staff Friday due to the break.
DOE officials said the school is expected to be without running water while repairs are made and families are being contacted directly.
Water customers are urged to use water for essential needs only such as cooking, cleaning and for sanitary needs only to allow the water system to recover.
The break was reported around 4 a.m. on Mekia Street near Shima’s Supermarket on Kalanianaole Highway.
Here’s a First Alert for drivers before they head out the door:
Motorists are advised to drive with caution near the work area and to expect delays.
According to BWS, a transmission main break refers to a rupture in a large water pipe. This means that there’s a break in a primary pipeline that carries large volumes of water across a wider area, potentially causing widespread service disruptions.
BWS said roving water wagons are available to affected customers. To request a roving water wagon please call 808-748-5000 extension 1.
There’s no timeline yet when repairs will be completed.
This story will be updated.

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