WAILUKU - Overall water demand fell by more than 2 million gallons per day last week, compared with the week before. Upcountry reservoirs were full or filling up, and water flowing in the Wailoa Ditch topped 90 percent of its capacity on six out of seven days.
"The cool temperatures and overcast skies this past reporting period led to lower water production demand in all areas of Maui County, excluding Hana, which showed no change," said Department of Water Supply Director Jeff Eng.
Countywide average daily water use went from 34.36 mgd for the week of Feb. 26 to March 4 to 32.01 last week, according to a weekly report issued by the water department. Much of the reduction in water usage - 1.85 mgd less - came from Central and South Maui water consumers who went from using an average of 22.09 mgd a week earlier to 20.24 mgd last week.
On Friday, the 100-million-gallon Kahakapao Reservoir was nearly full at 95.8 percent, while the 50-mg Piiholo Reservoir topped off at 100 percent.
The Waikamoi Reservoirs - two 15-mg facilities - were at 80 percent and 50.1 percent, respectively.
The Wailoa Ditch recorded only one day last week at less than 90 percent of its nearly 200-mgd capacity. That was Thursday, when the ditch was running at 86.5 percent of capacity.
The ditch captures stream water from the East Maui watershed, and it's a good indication of the amount of rain in the area.
The water department also continued to save money on pumping costs, reporting no pumping uphill from the Kamole water-treatment facility near Haliimaile.
Over the weekend, National Weather Service rain gauges showed rainfall in normally dry leeward areas.
For a 24-hour period ending at 8 a.m. Sunday, Mahinahina in West Maui reported 2.61 inches, Lahainaluna had 1.27 inches and Kihei showed 0.72 inch.
Deep in the West Maui watershed, Puu Kukui received 3.07 inches. And, at Kahului Airport, there was 1.05 inches.
