WAILUKU, Maui — A little rainfall over the weekend bumped up water flows in the Wailoa Ditch to 22.1 million gallons per day, but that wasn't enough to make much of a dent in Maui's drought, Department of Water Supply officials told The Maui News on Monday.

The rate of 22 million gallons still was only about 11 percent of the ditch's capacity of nearly 200 mg. And, on Monday, the ditch flow had dropped back down to 14 mg, or 7 percent of its capacity.

The Wailoa Ditch is a key component of the Upcountry water system. It gathers water from streams in the East Maui watershed and channels it to the Kamole Water Treatment Facility. From there, the water is pumped to customers in Makawao and Pukalani and farther uphill to Upcountry reservoirs supplying water to residents in Kula and Ulupalakua.

Upcountry residents have been asked to voluntarily cut back water use by 10 percent, and average daily demand for the region has been fairly stable. It was 8.36 million gallons per day last week, 8.61 mg the week before and 8.5 mg in July 2007, when Upcountry was under mandatory 10 percent cutbacks.

On Monday, water officials said that they were continuing to evaluate water demand and supply in Upcountry and West Maui to see if mandatory restrictions are needed.

"The situation seems more severe than last year," said Water Director Jeff Eng. "We will have to request additional conservation measures shortly if it continues to be this dry."

Eng said the department is reviewing all its options, including using the Hamakuapoko wells for agricultural use.

Hours after the water department released its statement, the National Weather Service issued a flood advisory for the island of Maui through 6:45 p.m. Monday.

According to the advisory, radar and rain gauge data showed heavy rain over the southwest flank of Haleakala at rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour.

"The area of heavy rain was nearly stationary," the advisory said.

It also was not in an area that would do the most good for the Upcountry drought as the rainfall was recorded on Haleakala's leeward side, not the windward slopes where streams feed into ditches that supply water to Upcountry reservoirs.

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