Maui County continues to reel from the Covid-19 pandemic well into 2021 and struggles with one of the worst ongoing drought crises in over a decade that started in March 2019. Sudden, short-lived winter rains recently helped ease drought conditions and stress to the Department of Water Supply (DWS) water supplies temporarily, but rain totals to date continue to trend well below average. Although Maui nui faces similar conditions, Molokai has been hit especially hard with extreme drought conditions that are causing widespread animal starvation and extreme fire conditions. With below-normal rainfall predictions for summer and fall, the County will undoubtedly face serious drought-related water use restrictions and the need for a greater effort on every citizens’ part to help conserve water.
To help remind DWS water customers, as well as visitors and other residents, to cut back on freshwater use during these hot, drier summer months, the County of Maui and DWS has created a new summer water conservation awareness campaign called, “Don’t Waste a Drop!”
Water is a limited resource and all the water on the Earth is constantly moving through the water cycle. Water in the oceans, in plants, and even in us evaporates into the air and forms clouds and eventually rain, which feeds streams or falls into the ground and finds its way into aquifers. Some of that water is collected and used for agriculture, while a portion is collected and treated by DWS for delivery to your homes. In the cooler, wetter months, there typically is more rainfall than in hotter, drier months on Maui. Since we rely on rainwater to keep our streams and aquifers replenished, less rain means less water for our use so it is important for us to consciously always think about conserving water.
DWS will be out this summer at community events and encourages you to check out their website for ways to help you save water and get free fixtures and fun items to “Don’t Waste a Drop” at https://waterresources.mauicounty.gov/dontwasteadrop-dws.
