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Kokua Line
June Watanabe
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Property owner finally learns of water leak
Question: There is a water line leak on the makai side of Farrington Highway about 100 paces Diamond Head from Kealanani Street. It's been leaking around the base of a tree and the excess water has been leaking long enough to kill the tree. I reported it to the Board of Water Supply and was told it would contact the state, since it was allegedly in the state system. But the leaking continues.
Answer: This one took a little longer to resolve because the Board of Water Supply had problems identifying the owner of the property.
The agency last week finally was able to determine that a state agency formerly known as the Housing and Community Development Corporation of Hawaii had jurisdiction, said BWS spokeswoman Wanda Yamane.
(HCDCH was established in 1997 to unite the state's public-housing authority and its housing development agencies. However, it again was split into two on July 1, becoming the Hawaii Public Housing Authority, under the Department of Human Services, and the Hawaii Finance and Development Corporation, under the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.)
"I talked with them on Wednesday, and at that time they were going to send somebody out for action and repair" of the water line, Yamane said.
You have since reported that "the sidewalk and gutter were dry for the first time in four to five weeks."
The Board of Water Supply asks the public to call its Water Waste Hotline at 748-5041 when they see water being wasted, because of a broken pipe, malfunctioning sprinkler, running faucet, etc.
Be sure to describe the problem, the location (an address, if possible) and any other information that might be helpful.
Having an exact location is essential, Yamane said.
In this case, a lot of time was involved in trying to determine the jurisdiction of the property, she said.
In addition to the Water Waste Hotline, BWS says you can call the following government numbers directly about water leaks:
» City parks and roadways, 973-7250 for Makapuu to Manoa; 522-7070, Ala Moana to Aiea; 671-0561, Pearl City to Wahiawa; and 233-7300, Waimanalo to Mokuleia.
» State: 831-6703 for freeways/roads; 587-2070, state harbors; 831-6734, state buildings; and 956-7134 or 956-7922, University of Hawaii grounds.
» Federal: 541-1950 for Federal Building grounds; 438-1824, Fort DeRussy grounds; 471-0144, Pearl Harbor Shipyard; and 448-4440, Hickam Air Force Base.
Mahalo
To whoever is responsible. My alma mater, Likelike Elementary School, is scheduled to have its buildings renovated. The project will take approximately two years to complete. The renovation will include new interior lighting and flooring, and the building exterior will be repainted. Well done! -- Roy E. Shigemura
Got a question or complaint? Call 529-4773, fax 529-4750, or write to Kokua Line, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210, Honolulu 96813. As many as possible will be answered. E-mail to
kokualine@starbulletin.com.
See also: Useful phone numbers