The state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands yesterday told people in the Ho'olehua area of Molokai that they need to reduce their water usage by 50 percent while the department works to recharge a water reservoir and complete repairs at the Kala'e well site.

Both pumps for the two wells at the Kala'e site are under repair. Meanwhile, workers are installing a temporary emergency water line from the Moloka'i Ranch water system to recharge the reservoir servicing the Ho'olehua area, DHHL said.

The temporary line is being installed with help from Moloka'i Ranch, Monsanto Moloka'i, the Maui County Department of Water Supply and DHHL employees.

Earlier this year, the DHHL wells supplied water to the County of Maui system when county repairs were being done. Two weeks ago, DHHL's second pump at Kala'e broke down and the county system began supplying water to DHHL's system.