WAILUKU — While recent wet weather has cut water demand, Water Director Jeff Eng remained concerned Friday that normal winter wet weather has not appeared and Upcountry reservoirs have not benefited from Kona storms coming from the south, The Maui News reported today.

Upcountry reservoir supplies ranged from a low of 144.4 million gallons on Jan. 16 to 158.3 mg on Sunday. On Thursday, the reservoirs had 152.4 mg.

The 100-mg Kahakapao Reservoir and the Piiholo Reservoir were nearly full at 96.2 percent and 95.8 percent respectively, but the 30-mg Waikamoi Reservoirs held less than 35 percent of their capacities.

The good news for the Department of Water Supply, which has been emphasizing water conservation during a lengthy drought, was that water consumption dropped in all areas last week, compared with the week of Jan. 8 to 14.

In Central and South Maui, water use dropped from 20.63 million gallons per day in the second week of the year to 18.6 mgd for the week ending Thursday.

"The production demand numbers look very good," Eng said. "Furthermore, when you compare the past week's production demands with last year's January production demands, you can readily see the results of our customers' conservation efforts, which we appreciate and commend."

Eng said Maui continues to have a "dry winter," pointing out that the Wailoa Ditch, which has a capacity of nearly 200 mgd was running low.

It had only from 48.6 mgd (24.3 percent) to 65.2 mgd (32.6 percent) for most of the week of Jan. 16 to Thursday - except for a spike to 162.6 mgd (81.4 percent) on Jan. 17.

"At this time of year, that's pretty low," he said. "We're hoping to see more of a normal rainfall pattern soon."

Eng said Upcountry reservoir levels have remained roughly the same compared with a week earlier because water demand in the region has more or less matched the amount of water replenishing the reservoirs.

The Board of Water Supply discussed the island's ongoing drought Upcountry and in Central Maui, and Eng said the consensus was to keep voluntary 5 percent cutbacks in place.

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