It won't be long until Maui and the Big Island see water restrictions, said Neal Fujii, the state drought and water conservation coordinator with the Commission on Water Resource Management, of the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Maui Department of Water Supply officials say they are increasingly worried about the situation in Upcountry Maui, where levels at the three main reservoirs are dropping steadily. On Thursday, the Maui Board of Water Supply asked residents and businesses to voluntarily cut back on water use by 5 percent.

Water in the three reservoirs that serve Upcountry Maui totaled about 91 million gallons in mid-May — or half of their combined capacity.

Upcountry Maui also went through a drought last year. In June 2007, water officials issued a mandatory 10 percent cutback in use and didn't lift the restriction until December.

Central and South Maui residents also are being urged to cut water use.

Big Island residents also are being encouraged to voluntarily conserve. Areas most affected by the dry weather are Waimea Town to Kawaihae, upper Pa'auilo, Ahualoa and districts of South Kohala and Hamakua. Last summer, the areas were under either mandatory or voluntary water restrictions.ᡄ