The Maui County Department of Water Supply is beginning to use a couple of backup wells to provide potable water for Upcountry residents as a drought continues across the county.

Starting Thursday, county officials are using backup water from two Hamakuapoko wells. Officials said recent testing has not detected chemicals once used as soil fumigants in pineapple farming.

On Wednesday, officials with the water department reported the decision to utilize the wells came from a lack of surface water flow at the Piiholo reservoir, drier-than-average temperatures and with inadequate forecasted rainfall.

The Upcountry service area includes Makawao, Upper and Lower Kula, Haiku, Haliimaile, Pukalani, Kokomo, Kaupakalua, Ulumalu, Keokea, Ulupalakua and Kanaio.

According to department officials, the Upcountry system is heavily dependent on surface water and they will continue to monitor conditions and use the backup water for as long as it’s necessary.

Although the area has experienced recent rain, the rainfall is insufficient to maintain adequate reservoir levels without the request for water conservation, according to the department. Besides Upcountry, Stage 1 water-use restrictions also apply to Central and South Maui.

The following Stage 1 restrictions apply to all users, including county parks and facilities, commercial users and multi-family units.

• Irrigation is allowed for no more than two days per week. Monday and Friday are for even-numbered residential addresses. Tuesday and Saturday are for odd-numbered residential addresses. Wednesday and Sunday are for even-numbered commercial facilities and multi-family units, and Monday and Thursday are for odd-numbered commercial facilities and multi-family units.

• Avoid washing vehicles unless using handheld containers, hoses with automatic shutoff devices or at a commercial car wash.

• Restaurants can only serve water upon a customer’s request.

• Limit irrigation of landscaped areas to the houses before 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

• Customers must repair any leaks, breaks or faulty sprinklers within five days of notice or notification to the extent feasible.

• Existing pools shall not be emptied and refilled using potable water unless required for public health and safety purposes.

• Filling or refilling ornamental ponds is prohibited. Ornamental ponds that sustain aquatic life and were actively managed prior to the shortage declaration are exempt.

The department noted that the National Weather Service is predicting below-normal rainfall this month in the Hawaiian Islands.

NWS lead forecaster Mathew Foster said rainfall on Maui this year has been “pretty typical” with the dry season during summer and fall and the wet season running from October through March.

He said Hurricane Kiko traveled north of the Hawaiian Islands, and there wasn’t any significant rainfall on Maui and other islands from the storm.