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Kokua Line
June Watanabe
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aCity needs time to fix broken fire hydrants
Question: About a month ago, a fire hydrant on Haloa Drive was knocked over by a hit-and-run driver. Two traffic cones were placed around the fallen hydrant, but since then nothing has been done. When does the city plan to replace or repair the hydrant, or have they forgotten about it?
Answer: By now you've seen the hydrant repaired and back in service.
The Honolulu Board of Water Supply had already scheduled the hydrant to be repaired on April 13 when it received our inquiry, said spokeswoman Wanda Yamane.
This is a good opportunity to let readers know what is involved in replacing a fire hydrant.
The Board of Water Supply is responsible for inspecting, testing, maintaining and repairing all municipal fire hydrants in Honolulu. That's about 20,336 hydrants.
It is not responsible for hydrants owned by private companies or other government agencies, Yamane said.
"BWS crews handle an average of 12 fire hydrants a month that have been damaged in vehicular accidents," she said.
The time involved in repairing and replacing fire hydrants after an accident depends on the amount of damage to the hydrant and its fixtures.
More time is involved if replacement parts need to be ordered from the mainland, if the hydrant has been severely damaged or if street permits need to be obtained for the repair work, Yamane said.
If the Board of Water Supply knows who is responsible for any damage, it will bill that person directly for all repairs and/or replacement costs, including parts and labor, she said.
Because the driver who knocked down the Haloa Street hydrant is unknown, the costs are being assumed by the Water Board.
Q: I recently moved to Hawaii, and the apartment I moved into is without a deadbolt lock. Is there a law that states that deadbolts are required for rental units?
A: There is no such law or requirement for rental units in Hawaii.
But you might bring it up with your landlord.
"It's always in the interest of a landlord to make the premises as safe as possible and to the extent that a deadbolt serves that purpose, it would be a good thing," said Stephen Levins, executive director of the state Office of Consumer Protection.
For landlord-tenant questions, call the state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs' Residential Landlord-Tenant Hotline at 586-2634, 8 a.m. to noon weekdays except for state holidays. Or go to the Web site www.hawaii.gov/dcca/areas/ocp/landlord_tenant to read the state's Landlord-Tenant Code.
Auwe
Isn't there any way the sewer and water departments can coordinate their activities so roadways don't have to be dug up and repaved several times in a period of a few years? It would be helpful if we had only one disruption. This goes for the cable and electric companies as well. -- Jane
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