Status report on Maui’s water supply.

Water production demand edged upward last week, according to Maui County Director of Water Supply Jeff Eng. On Wednesday, July 30, Upcountry consumption was at 8.10 million gallons per day (mgd), compared to 6.70 mgd the previous Thursday, July 24. Also in the Central/ South Maui system, production was over 25 mgd, last summer’s goal for water production.

The 100 mg Kahakapao reservoir in the Upper Kula water system is slowly filling up, currently at the 83.8 mg level. The 30 mg Waikamoi reservoir is at 6.4 mg.

“Now that we have water at the upper elevation,” said Eng, “our personnel are preparing to restart water production at the Olinda Water Treatment Facility, and we plan on sending notices to our customers this week that their water will no longer come from the Lower Kula system. This should be a big reduction in our pumping costs.”

Eng reminded Maui water customers, “We all need to be vigilant and not assume last month’s [June’s] rainfall will be enough to protect us from more drought conditions in the next few months.”

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, most of the rain totals for 2008 through June remained below normal across Maui County. The USGS gauge on Pu‘u Kukui, the highest peak in the West Maui Mountains, recorded 9.39 inches in June, the highest total in Maui and third highest statewide.

Average Daily Water Production for Maui County Millions of gallons per day (mgd)

Week of Nov. July 24–30 - 2008/2007
Central Maui - 25.84 mgd/28.34 mgd
Upcountry -7.71 mgd/8.50 mgd
Lahaina - 5.73 mgd/6.77 mgd
Hana - 0.37 mgd/0.33 mgd
Moloka‘i - 5 mgd/1.50 mgd
Total Production - 40.81 mgd/45.44 mgd