KAILUA — The Board of Water Supply has plans for more than $8.5 million in projects in Lanikai, Keolu Hills and along North Kalaheo Avenue to replace water mains that are 50 to 80 years old.

The projects, one of which is ongoing, could take about 18 months to complete and call for the installation of 8-inch and 12-inch lines in areas that have experienced 111 breaks since 1976, said Su Shin, BWS spokeswoman.

Residents affected by the projects recognize the need for them and some want the city to improve other problems while the streets are dug up.

"The infrastructure (in Lanikai) is pathetic," said Nancy Hall, a Lanikai resident. "It's insane to tear up the roads here and not do some drainage and put the utility lines underground."

The Lanikai project includes a new 8-inch water main on Mokulua Drive from Kaneapu Place to 'A'alapapa Drive. Other streets in Lanikai slated for work are Ka'elepulu, Kaiolena, 'A'ala, Onekea and Lanipo drives and Pokole Way.

The water main was installed in 1938 and has had 39 breaks since 1976, Shin said. The project could start in September and should be completed in May 2007 at a cost of more than $2.9 million, she said.

Like other residents, LeRoy Jenkins, president of the Lanikai Association, said the community has been notified about the project and expects some inconvenience. The pipes aren't the only problems in Lanikai, Jenkins said, adding that drain pipes that hook up to the city sewer system are disintegrating.

"There's a lot of that going on now because of aging," he said.

The city has been rehabilitating or replacing thousands of feet of sewer lines in Kailua at a cost of tens of millions of dollars because of aging and deterioration.

The oldest water pipes undergoing change are along North Kalaheo and were set in 1927, Shin said. The North Kalaheo water project is being done in conjunction with the sewer line rehabilitation that started there in 2001. Delays have added several years to the project. The water main project, to install 8- and 12-inch mains, is 15 percent complete but should be done by December, she said.

The Kalaheo water main has had 17 breaks since 1984, she said. The total cost of the Kalaheo water project is about $3.2 million.

The Keolu Hills project could begin next month and take until December, Shin said. The BWS will be placing 8-inch pipes along Aukele, Loho, Hele and Kina streets, where water mains are 59 years old and have had 15 breaks since 1983. The project should cost a little more than $1.5 million, she said.

Another Keolu Hills project is planned for Manulani Street and includes 8-inch pipes for Manulani Place and Mowai Street as well, Shin said. Construction for this project is slated for 2007. There have been 17 breaks on these streets since 1984. The mains there are 50 years old. The project is estimated to cost $931,868, she said, adding that the cost of this project is lower than the others because the BWS was able to do the planning and design work in-house.

Reach Eloise Aguiar at eaguiar@honoluluadvertiser.com.