(BIVN) – The Honokohau Deepwell remains out of service, officials say, as the Emergency Water Restriction for North Kona remains in effect.

Water customers from Keauhou to Keahole and Honalo to Makalei must continue to restrict water use to health and safety needs only (water for drinking, cooking, and hygiene purposes only), the county repeats.

For the last few days, water officials have loosened the restriction a bit. “Due to a significant level of overall compliance, water levels in the tanks have remained stable,” the latest message from the Department of Water Supply states. “The Department appreciates the community’s efforts to restrict water use during this time.”

Due to the customer compliance, water supply says “limited hand watering of precious plants, on occasion, is acceptable.”

However, the use of sprinklers (manual or automatic) for lawns and grass areas is still prohibited.

Water Supply offers these suggestions for best practices for hand watering plants:

• Water at night to reduce evaporation.
• Use of County’s free mulch to preserve moisture around plants. Visit the County’s website for more information.
• Use of recycled water from downspouts, washing machines, washing dishes, and shower “warm up” water is also encouraged.
• Do not over-water plants.

“Without everyone’s continued cooperation, there will be areas that will experience periodic loss of water service or lower water pressures,” the water department officials say. “We also recommend that residents store a sufficient amount of water for basic household needs, such as drinking, cooking, and hygiene purposes, in the event of service
disruptions.”

Potable water can be still be obtained from water “buffaloes” located on Hina Lani Street below Anini Street, water supply says, as well as water spigots on a fire hydrant along Ane Keohokalole Highway, between Kealakehe Parkway and Kealakehe High School. Officials ask that you bring your own drinking water containers to fill.