KAUNAKAKAI, MOLOKAI » Residents in the main town of Kaunakakai and nearby Kalae are being asked to use county drinking water for health and safety purposes only until a well pump is replaced.

Maui County water officials said yesterday that water levels at Molokai's Kaunakakai tank have fallen rapidly since the well at Kualapuu was shut down Monday for repairs.

The state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands is supplying some water but not enough to keep up with the demand. The county has asked customers to turn off irrigation systems and curtail other non-essential uses.