Maui County plans to use water from the Piiholo reservoir to bolster the supply for Upcountry residents. Photo courtesy Maui County

In September, the Maui County Department of Water Supply is planning to supplement water delivery to the Upcountry area, which has been plagued by ongoing drought conditions.

According to the county, due to existing and projected water shortages, the county’s water department will provide additional backup water on or around Sept. 5 to the Upcountry system that serves Upper and Lower Kula, Makawao, Pukalani, Haliimaile and Haiku.

The county says it will utilize water from two of its Hamakuapoko wells to bolster the Upcountry system, which has been plagued by drought conditions.

The U.S. Drought Monitor shows the majority of Maui under moderate and severe drought, and the National Weather Service has predicted below normal precipitation next month for all of the Hawaiian islands.

By law, Maui County requires scheduled water quality sampling for the well water and mandates that results comply with state health regulations and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standards.

According to the country, the lack of adequate surface water flow into Piiholo reservoir, drier than average temperatures and inadequate forecasted rainfall led to the decision to utilize the wells.

The Upcountry water system is heavily dependent on surface water. County officials say the department will continue to monitor conditions and utilize the backup source as long as warranted.

For more information, go to www.mauicounty.gov/water. For health-related questions, call the Maui District Office of the state Department of Health at (808) 984-8200.