Pali Highway lane closed as BWS pumps water from Nuuanu Reservoir

The Honolulu Board of Water Supply is pumping water from its Nuuanu No. 1 Reservoir to lower the level after today’s heavy rain.

BWS issued an alert just before 5 p.m. that the far-right town-bound lane of the Pali Highway is closed between Waokanaka Street and Country Club Road in Nuuanu as it pumps the water from the reservoir.

“The lane closure enables BWS equipment to discharge the pumped water safely into a nearby storm drain,” the HNL alert said “If possible, BWS will open the lane for the morning rush hour traffic each day from 5:30 a.m to 8:30 a.m.”

Motorists are urged to avoid the area, if possible, plan for traffic delays, and to drive with caution near the site, city officials said.

According to the National Weather Service, Nuuanu Reservoir No. 1 received 4 inches of rain in six hours ending at 4 p.m. today. Today’s deluge came after the area had already received over 6 inches of rain from Thursday to Sunday.

Separately, BWS also urged all residents from Honokai Hale to Makaha on the Leeward Coast to use water for essential purposes only – drinking, cooking, and personal hygiene.

“Electrical outages caused by the storm have impacted the BWS’s water system serving the Leeward Coast community, from Honokai Hale to Makaha,” BWS officials said. “All residents should keep water use to an absolute minimum and should not fill containers at this time. All BWS pumps need electricity to operate.”