HILO >> Hawaii County officials say they’ve received complaints from customers who called the county’s emergency water line after a water main break and were directed to call center operators in South Carolina.

Customers had sought information Sunday after the water main break caused an interruption in service in Hilo. George Lewitzki said he called the emergency number and didn’t get help from operators on the other end, who told him they couldn’t offer much information because they were on the other side of the country.

“They told me that I would probably find out more about it and sooner than they would. I said, ‘How is that possible? Who’s going to call me? Who’s going to inform me what this is all about?’ I’d like to know what part of town to avoid because, obviously, they’re going to be digging up the street or something,” Lewitzki told the Hawaii Tribune-Herald in an article Tuesday.

Kawika Uyehara, the Department of Water Supply’s deputy manager, said customers were directed to an “after-hours call center” and that the county is looking into ways to improve service.

Uyehara said the break occurred because of a fallen tree and that water service was restored to all customers Monday. He said he didn’t know how many customers were affected.

Lewitzki said his water was restored by Monday morning but he was more concerned about not being able to get information when he needed it most.