CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Water wagons were brought in for Liliha residents yesterday after a 12-inch water main ruptured overnight on Liliha Street. Four families were flooded out of their homes. CLICK FOR LARGE
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Broken pipe floods 4 apartments
The early-morning water main rupture at Liliha Street cuts area service until 3 p.m.
Winnie Kwong and her family were sound asleep and "everybody dreaming," when they awoke to a nightmare early yesterday.
They found themselves in 3 to 4 feet of water that damaged everything from their beds to CDs to bank statements, and other furniture.
"It looked like we were in a pool," she said. "When we woke up, I thought we slept at the beach."
The water came from a 12-inch water main that ruptured at 12:53 a.m. at 1710 Liliha St. between Kuakini and School streets.
The water flooded four apartments on the ground floor of two buildings makai of the break, affecting about a dozen people.
It also knocked out water service for 20 apartments and 10 businesses.
Water service on the 1700 block of Liliha Street was restored by afternoon. Board of Water Supply spokeswoman Tracy Burgo said crews replaced about 15 feet of pipe before restoring service shortly before 3 p.m.
But the break caused major trouble for the residents of the four flooded apartments.
Kwong, 32, and her family have lived in their apartment for 13 years. Her family includes her mother and father, her brother, niece and the niece's infant child.
Kwong said they were scared but soon realized that the floodwaters would not rise any higher. Soon afterward, the fire department came and pumped out the water.
While the water service was out, two water wagons were located near the site of the break -- one at 1654 Liliha St. and the other at 1651 Liliha St. Residents were asked to bring their own containers.
Traffic was restricted to one lane as crews worked to repair the water main, which was installed in 1926.
What caused the break is under investigation.
Kwong was in good spirits yesterday morning, laughing and joking with her family despite the fact that all their belongings were outside the apartment, wet and covered with mud.
"Everybody's OK, it's just stuff that was damaged. At least I still have a home."