After eight years of violating safe drinking water standards, the Pahala water system is now up to par, West Hawaii Today reported.

In an Oct. 1 letter to the county Department of Water Supply, the state Department of Health said the system now meets state and federal standards for drinking water. That's because a new $1.8 million well has replaced the Alili Tunnel, a surface water system that lacked adequate filtration.

"It took us several years to replace that source," said Quirino Antonio, deputy manager of water supply. "But now we're not in violation. Now we're OK."

Although the water had been disinfected, its previously substandard filtration could have allowed Giardia lamblia and Cryptosporidiosis, two protozoan parasites that cause nausea, cramps, diarrhea and gas, to get into the water.

"We didn't necessarily find it at this source," said Stuart Yamada, chief of the state Safe Drinking Water Branch. "But the federal government prefers multi-barriers. You want to stack things in your favor."

The county was using extra disinfectants to try to make up for the filtration problem.

The protozoa usually don't cause serious illness, but they can cause severe and even fatal complications in a person who has AIDS or similar diseases that compromise the immune system. Infants and elderly were also cautioned about drinking the water, although boiling was not recommended.