WAILUKU, Maui — Except for a pair of cloudbursts that caused minor flooding in parts of Kula and Ulupalakua, Maui County suffered another month of abnormally dry weather in April, with Kahului Airport showing a record low of 0.03 inch, The Maui News reported.

Normal rainfall at the airport for April would be 1.8 inches. But the airport rain gauge has been well below normal through 2008, recording 2.49 inches for what normally is the wettest period of the year but is at 24 percent of norm.

Below-normal rainfall is an increasing issue for the Department of Water Supply, which imposed a drought warning on Upcountry consumers in June last year because of the below-normal rainfall in 2007.

Water use Upcountry remained below 7 million gallons a day during the period of April 24-30, below the average demand in 2007 and well below the 9.48 mgd demand recorded in May last year.

"It's a relief to see water production demand under 40 million gallons a day for the last week of April 2008," water department Administrative Officer Jacky Takakura said. "I hope we can continue with the level of water usage even as the dry summer months approach.

"Upcountry customers should be commended for their cutback on water usage. Last summer's drought had a lasting impact on consumption habits, and this has been a big help in managing our water production."

Water levels in the Upcountry system, which relies largely on surface water sources, have been falling, with reservoirs at 77 percent of capacity and the Wailoa Ditch running at 34.1 mgd on Thursday, 17 percent of capacity.

The department's Upcountry Water Report (mauiwater.org/ drought.html) showed the 100-million-gallon Kahakapao Reservoir at 35.6 million gallons on Thursday, while the 50-mg Piiholo Reservoir was at 41.6 mg.

The department has been pumping water up to Piiholo to feed the Lower Kula water system to maintain the reservoir levels, but the higher Kahakapao Reservoir serving the Upper Kula system is dwindling.

"Even with these low levels at the ditch, the Department of Water Supply has been pumping water up to the Lower Kula system to supplement the water system there and keep the Piiholo Reservoir at a stable level," Takakura said. "If it continues to be dry, we will have to pump water to the Upper Kula system. Electricity is the department's biggest expense and will increase if the dry conditions continue."

The downturn in water flows to the Upcountry system is reflected in the rainfall totals, with the West Wailua Iki rain gauge in the East Maui watershed showing 12.25 inches for the month of April, 56 percent of normal.

Earlier this winter, trade wind showers had kept the watershed in better condition, with rainfall for the first four months of 2008 at 71.54 inches, which is 95 percent of normal.

But at Haiku, on the western edge of the watershed, the rainfall numbers are sharply lower. For April, Haiku received 2.9 inches, or 45 percent of normal; for the year to date, Haiku had 14.08 inches, 54 percent of normal.

On the eastern edge of the watershed, Hana recorded 3.68 inches in April, 49 percent of normal; 19.9 inches for the year to date, 65 percent of normal.

Kula and Ulupalakua recorded above-normal rainfall, largely as a result of isolated convectional storms that struck on April 9 and 26. Kula had 2.57 inches for April, well above the normal 1.6 inches; Ulupalakua recorded 4.76 inches, compared to a normal 2.3 inches.

The U.S. Drought Monitor for the week ended April 29 said all of Hawaii remained in abnormally dry condition, noting that a few heavy rainstorms provided short-term relief but did not alleviate the drier-than-normal situation.

For more Maui news, visit www.mauinews.com.