But the reduction in Central Maui is still short of the goal of 10 percent through voluntary conservation, Eng told The Maui News.

"While demand has dropped by 5.7 percent since the week of August 16 to 22, additional efforts must be taken to meet the 10 percent reduction goal," he said.

With the approval of the Board of Water Supply, Eng issued a drought declaration for the Central Maui water system on Aug. 23, citing high demand and low rainfall in the West Maui watershed that is the primary water source for the system. He has targeted a reduction in demand to 25.5 million gallons a day for the system that provides water through Central and South Maui – from Kuau-Paia to Wailuku-Kahului to Maalaea-Kihei-Makena.

Demand on the system had peaked at 28.5 mgd in July. Over the past week, consumption in Central Maui was down to 26.6 mgd.

Eng said mild summer weather and occasional showers over the past week may have helped to cut demand. But he said he still is concerned that Central Maui consumption remains higher than the target usage.

Water use on the Upcountry system fell even more dramatically to 6.8 mgd with a weekly Upcountry water report showing demand had fallen to as low as 5.7 mgd. Eng had issued a drought warning on June 13, requiring consumers to cut use by 10 percent – when demand was running an average of 10 mgd.

While consumers were cutting back, the National Weather Service rainfall report for August indicated there was virtually no change in the below-normal rainfall conditions across the islands.

The report said Hurricane Flossie, which approached the islands on Aug. 14 and 15, was the most significant weather event during the month, but it failed to generate heavy rains that had been forecast for the Big Island. An outer shower band from Flossie provided two days of relief in the watersheds, dropping up to 3 inches on windward slopes of Maui. But for the month as a whole, most areas of the county continued to record well below normal rainfall – including two key sites within the East Maui and West Maui watersheds.

Puu Kukui at the summit of the West Maui Mountains recorded 14.56 inches, which is 45 percent of normal for August. For the year to date, Puu Kukui has recorded 41 percent of normal rainfall.

West Wailua Iki in the East Maui watershed, recorded 14.41 inches, which is 73 percent of normal. While rainfall was below normal, the rain that fell and lower consumer demand helped to maintain reservoir levels in the Upcountry system.

The 100-million-gallon Kahakapao Reservoir held 92.3 million gallons on Friday. It had been down to 21 mg in June. The 50-mg Piiholo Reservoir was at 39.8 mg on Friday; it had fallen as low as 17 mg in June.

At least one regional group, the Wailea Community Association, declared its members have taken steps to reduce use of water, including cutting out one day of irrigation, installing more efficient sprinkler heads, replacing plantings with drought-resistant varieties and xeriscaping with new landscaping.

Association officer Frank "Bud" Pikrone said several Wailea hotels have initiated efforts to reduce water use by asking guests to accept less frequent changes in linen and towels.

In August, the normally dry leeward coastline of South Maui was spattered with rain, 0.71 inches, but for the eight months of 2007, the Kihei rain gauge is at 39 percent of normal.

A few areas of Maui County received higher than-normal-rainfall in August, but the higher August numbers are relative, while year-to-date totals remain low.

Kaunakakai, with 0.56 inches in August, was at 560 percent of the normal 0.1 inches for the month. For the year, Kaunakakai is at 70 percent of normal.

The Oheo Gulch rain gauge is the only one recording normal rainfall, with 6.96 inches in August and 63.59 inches for the year, which is 107 percent of normal.

Kahului Airport recorded just 0.13 inches in August, and is at 34 percent of normal for the year. Wailuku showed 0.35 inches in August and is at 47 percent for the year.

Kula had a higher-than-normal 2.43 inches in August, but is at 62 percent for the year. Pukalani had 0.55 inches in August and is at 37 percent for the year. Haiku has 2.99 inches in August but is at 56 percent for the year.

The West Maui region may be suffering the most in the drought. Lahainaluna had just 0.15 inches in August and is at 5 percent of normal for the year with less than a inch recorded through eight months.

Except for the sharp spike in use in early July to 7.9 mgd, around the time a series of brush fires broke out around Olowalu and Kaanapali, West Maui consumers have maintained use at between 6.6 mgd and 6.8 mgd, averaging about 300,000 gallons a day higher than the same period in 2006.

Over the past week, usage in West Maui averaged 6.4 mgd, which is below the September 2006 average of 6.5 mgd.

On Molokai, the rain gauge in the farming area around Hoolehua recorded just 0.33 inches in August and is at 38 percent of normal for the year with 6.19 inches.

AVERAGE DAILY WATER USE

District Aug. 30-Sept. 5 Aug. 23-29 September 2006

Central Maui 26.6 mgd 27.3 mgd 27.6 mgd

Upcountry 6.8 mgd 7.3 mgd 9.1 mgd

Lahaina 6.4 mgd 6.7 mgd 6.5 mgd

Hana 0.3 mgd 0.3 mgd 0.3 mgd

Molokai 1.4 mgd 1.5 mgd 1.4 mgd

Total 41.5 mgd 43.1 mgd 44.7 mgd