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2019 Groundwater Status Reports
December 2019 Groundwater Levels Status Report
There is one aquifer index well within low groundwater status for the production month of December 2019. Punaluu is under a Caution status. The monthly production average fo December 2019 was 131.24 million gallons per day.
As of January 7, 2020, the Hawaii Drought Monitor shows abnormally dry conditions along the leeward coast of Oahu from Ewa Beach to Kaena Point. The National Weather Service forecasts above-normal rainfall through June 2020, due to persistent elevated sea surface temperatures prredicted by most climate models.
Most monitoring wells exhibit stable trends.
November 2019 Groundwater Levels Status Report
As of December 6, 2019, available data indicate that aquifer indent well Kaimuki has come out of Caution status, while Punaluu remains in Caution status. The monthly production average for November 2019 was 134.80 million gallons per day.
As of December 43, 2019, the Hawaii Drought Monitor shows abnormally dry conditions along portions of the southern coast of Oahu. The National Weather Service forecasts above-normal rainfall thorugh May 2020, due to persistent elevated sea surface temperatures predicted by most climate models.
October 2019 Groundwater Levels Status Report
There are two aquifer index wells within low groundwater status for the production month of October 2019. Kaimuki and Punaluu are under a Caution status. The monthly production average for October 2019 was 136.01 million gallons per day.
The Board of Water Supply rainfall index for the month of October 2019 was 99 percent of normal; with a 5-month moving average of 107 percent. As of November 5, 2019, the Hawaii Drought Monitor shows abnormally dry conditions along portions of the southern coast of Oahu. The National Weather Service forecasts above-normal rainfall through May 2020, due to persistent elevated sea surface temperatures predicted by most climate models.
Most monitoring wells exhibit stable to slightly decreasing trends, likely reflecting increased rainfall during the past month along with slightly reduced production.
September 2019 Groundwater Levels Status Report
There were no aquifer index wells within low groundwater status for the production month of September 2019. The monthly production average for September 2019 was 148.30 million gallons per day.
The Board of Water Supply rainfall index for the month of September 2019 was 147 percent of normal; with a 5-month moving average of 101 percent. As of October 8, 2019, the Hawaii Drought Monitor shows abnormally dry to moderate drought conditions along the southern coast of Oahu.
August 2019 Groundwater Levels Status Report
There is one aquifer index well within low groundwater status for the production month of August 2019. Kaimuki is under a Caution status. The monthly production average for August 2019 was 152.39 million gallons per day.
The Board of Water Supply rainfall index for the month of August 2019 was 55 percent of normal; with a 5-month moving average of 84 percent. As of September 3 6, 2019, the Hawaii Drought Monitor shows abnormally dry to moderate conditions for all of Oahu.
Most monitoring wells continue to show decreasing trends, reflecting increased pumping through the summer months.
July 2019 Groundwater Levels Status Report
There were no aquifer index wells within low groundwater status for the production month of July 2019. The monthly production average for July 2019 was 144.51 million gallons per day.
The Board of Water Supply rainfall index for the month of July 2019 was 58 percent of normal; with a 5-month moving average of 77 percent. As of August 6, 2019, the Hawaii Drought Monitor shows abnormally dry conditions for all of Oahu.
Most monitoring wells are showing decreasing trends, resulting from increased pumping through the summer months.
June 2019 Groundwater Levels Status Report
There were no aquifer index wells within low groundwater status for the production month of June 2019. The monthly production average for June 2019 was 144.43 million gallons per day.
The Board of Water Supply rainfall index for the month of June 2019 was 174 percent of normal; with a 5-month moving average of 97 percent. As of July 2, 2019, the Hawaii Drought Monitor shows abnormally dry conditions for southern Oahu from Honolulu to Makaha, with moderate drought conditions on the leeward side of the island, Ewa Beach to Waianae. The wildfire season has started early this year.
The Oahu Drought Committee met on June 25, 2019. The National Weather Service is currently observing weak El Nino conditions around the Hawaiian Islands. A weak El Nino is likely to continue through the summer and possibly through fall and winter. Similar to last month's reporting, continuation of El Nino conditions through the summer normally correlates to decreased precipitation on Oahu. However, the Central Pacific Hurricane Center has predicted above-normal tropical cyclone activity during this hurricane season, thereby increasing probabilities for above normal rainfall during the summer months. If the El Nino weakens to neutral, more rainfall is possible during the 2019-2020 wet season. lf El Nino continues, drier wet season is more likely.
Most monitoring wells are showing slightly decreasing to static trends, resulting from increased pumping through the summer months.
May 2019 Groundwater Levels Status Report
There were no aquifer index wells within low groundwater status for the production month of May 2019. The monthly production average for May 2019 was 138.71 million gallons per day. The Board of Water Supply rainfall index for the month of May 2019 was 69 percent of normal; with a 5-month moving average of 72 percent. As of June 4, 2019, the Hawaii Drought Monitor shows abnormally dry conditions for all of Oahu, with moderate drought conditions on the leeward side of the island, and severe drought conditions on the leeward coast from Nanakuli to Makaha. The National Weather Service (NWS) is predicting the continuation of El Nino conditions through the summer which normally can correlate to decreased precipitation on Oahu. However, the Central Pacific Hurricane Center is predicting 70 percent chance of above-normal tropical cyclone activity during the hurricane season. The NWS said that Hawaiian Islands could be threatened by 5 to 8 storms from June through November; increasing probabilities for above normal rainfall during the summer months. Most monitoring wells are showing decreasing trends, resulting from below average rainfall and increased pumping during the summer months.
April 2019 Groundwater Levels Status Report
There were no aquifer index wells within low groundwater status for the production month of April 2019. The monthly production average for April 2019 was 142 million gallons per day.
The Board of Water Supply rainfall index for the month of April 2019 was 62 percent of normal; with a 5-month moving average of 76 percent. As of May 7, 2019, the Hawaii Drought Monitor shows abnormally dry conditions for all of Oahu, with moderate drought conditions on the leeward side of the island from Makaha, to Haleiwa, to Diamond Head. The National Weather Service is forecasting below normal rainfall for May 2019.
Most monitoring wells are showing slightly decreasing trends, likely resulting from increased pumping because of warmer weather and decreased rainfall during the last few weeks.
March 2019 Groundwater Levels Status Report
There were no aquifer index wells within low groundwater status for the production month of March 2019. The monthly production average for March 2019 was 132.51 million gallons per day.
The Board of Water Supply rainfall index for the month of March 2019 was 23 percent of normal; with a 5-month moving average of 79 percent. As of April 2, 2019, the Hawaii Drought Monitor shows abnormally dry for the leeward side of the island. The National Weather Service is forecasting below normal rainfall for April 2019.
Most monitoring wells are showing slightly decreasing trends, likely resulting from increased pumping because of the decreased rainfall during the last few weeks.
February 2019 Groundwater Levels Status Report
There were no aquifer index wells within low groundwater status for the production month of February 2019. The monthly production average for February 2019 was 123.94 million gallons per day.
The Board of Water Supply rainfall index for the month of February 2019 was 157 percent of normal; with a 5-month moving average of 108 percent. As of March 5, 2019, the Hawaii Drought Monitor shows abnormally dry for the leeward side of Oahu, from Ewa to Kapolei. The National Weather Service is forecasting below normal rainfall for March 2019.
Most monitoring wells are showing static to slightly increasing trends, likely resulting from decreased pumping during the winter months.
January 2019 Groundwater Levels Status Report
There were no aquifer index wells within low groundwater status for the production month of January 2019. The monthly production average for January 2019 was 131.30 million gallons per day.
The Board of Water Supply rainfall index for the month of January 2019 was 50 percent of normal; with a 5-month moving average of 107 percent. As of February 5, 2019, the Hawaii Drought Monitor shows abnormally dry to moderate drought conditions for the leeward side of Oahu, from Ewa to Waianae. The National Weather Service is forecasting below normal rainfall for February 2019.
Most monitoring wells are showing static to slightly increasing trends, likely resulting from decreased pumping during the winter months.
Updated: 12/16/2019