Posted on: Wednesday, September 8, 2004

Upcountry Maui water is running low

By Christie Wilson
Advertiser Neighbor Island Editor

WAILUKU, Maui — High water use over the three-day weekend reduced the water supply at the reservoir serving the Lower Kula water system to a "critical" level of 7 million gallons, according to the county Department of Water Supply.

Upcountry residents are being asked to immediately cut their water use for the next week or two. The affected areas include Ha'iku, Makawao, Olinda, Pi'iholo, Hali'imaile, Pukalani, Oma'opio-Pulehu, Kula, Keokea, 'Ulupalakua and Kanaio.

The Pi'iholo Reservoir, which has a capacity of 50 million gallons, has been hovering around 11 million gallons, said water director George Tengan. Water is pumped daily to the reservoir from the Kamole water treatment plant, but it could not keep up with the unusually high demand over the holiday weekend, he said.

Meanwhile, the 100-million-gallon Kahakapao Reservoirs, are virtually full and the 30-million-gallon Waikamoi Reservoirs are a third full.

Tengan said the Pi'iholo situation should improve within the next two weeks once pumping recharges the reservoir. In addition, two new wells at Hamakuapoko are to start pumping this week and should add 1.5 million to 2 million gallons to the Pi'iholo Reservoir.