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Posted at 10:45 a.m., Monday, January 14, 2008

Parts of Maui successful in cutting back water use

The Maui News

WAILUKU — A trend of gradual increases in water use by Central and South Maui consumers stopped last week as water consumption in the region dropped for the first time since the week following the Dec. 5 Kona storm, The Maui News reported.

For the week of Jan. 3 to 9, water consumption in the Central Maui region, which includes South Maui, averaged 21.75 million gallons per day, an 850,000 gallon drop from the 22.46 mgd level recorded for the week of Dec. 27 to Jan. 2.

County water officials have continued urging Central and South Maui water users to voluntarily cut back water usage by 10 percent. And water use in the region has been falling under the water department's target of 25.5 mgd on average.

Water consumption for the first full week of this year also was more than 2 mgd less than the average daily use of 23.88 mgd in January 2007.

"Water usage in the Central/South Maui system continues to improve," said Water Director Jeff Eng. "Upcountry usage is also low when compared to last year. However, the department must continue the conservation message to reach all consumers, all the time."

For the week of Jan. 3 to 9, Upcountry consumers used 5.66 mgd, up slightly from the 5.64 mgd recorded during the week of Dec. 27 to Jan. 2, but well below the 7.67 mgd used by the region on average in January 2007.

As of Friday, the 100-million-gallon Kahakapao Reservoir had 96 million gallons, but water levels in the 30-mg Waikamoi reservoir dropped to 13.4 mg. Just a week earlier, it had been nearly full at 29.2 mg – a sobering reminder of how fast a week of only light rain can affect Upcountry water reserves. Also, water available in the 50-mg Piiholo Reservoir went from 47.1 mg Jan. 4 to 44.3 mg Friday.

Flows in the Wailoa Ditch fell from a high of 162.1 mgd Jan. 5 to 101.4 mgd Friday.

AVERAGE DAILY WATER USE IN MAUI COUNTY

District Jan. 3-9 Dec. 27-Jan. 2 Jan. 2007

Central Maui 21.75 mgd 22.46 mgd 23.88 mgd

Upcountry 5.66 mgd 5.64 mgd 7.67 mgd

Lahaina 5.83 mgd 5.76 mgd 5.92 mgd

Hana 0.30 mgd 0.32 mgd 0.29 mgd

Molokai 0.96 mgd 1.05 mgd 1.12 mgd

Total 34.50 mgd 35.23 mgd 38.88 mgd

For more Maui news, visit The Maui News.