A water outage on Hawaii Island has left ranchers without a reliable supply for their cattle, putting the animals' health at risk and squeezing small operations.

• Water tanks and troughs on some ranches have run dry, forcing ranchers to ration what little is left.
• Cattle need steady water daily, and rationing only buys time before the animals' health suffers.
• The county opened a hydrant in Pahala, doubling local holding capacity, and daily truck deliveries are filling the gap.
• Mountain springs in the Ka'u region are being scouted as a possible source once lines can be rigged to reach them.
• Every fix so far is temporary, and permanent water lines have not been restored.

Outlook: Ranchers will likely depend on trucked-in water and the hydrant for weeks while the county tries to tap nearby springs and rebuild the damaged lines.