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2021 Groundwater Status Reports
December 2021 Groundwater Levels Status Report
There were two aquifer index stations in low groundwater condition for the production month of December 2021. Kaimuki and Punaluu are in Caution Status. The monthly production average for December 2021 was 124.31 million gallons per day.
The Board of Water Supply rainfall index for the month of December 2021 was 276 percent of normal, with a 5-month moving average of 118 percent. As of January 4, 2022, the Hawaii Drought Monitor shows no dry conditions on the island of Oahu. The National Weather Service (NWS) is forecasting above-normal precipitation for January 2022. In addition, due to the present La Nina conditions, NWS is forecasting enhanced probabilities for above normal precipitation through the winter months and into Spring 2022.
Most monitoring wells exhibited increasing head levels for the month, due to decreased pumping during the winter season and the recent heavy rainfall. Average monthly Production for December 2021 was lower than the previous year and the 5-year monthly average.
November 2021 Groundwater Levels Status Report
There were two aquifer index stations in low groundwater condition for the production month of November 2021. Kaimuki is in Caution Status. Punaluu is in Alert Status. The monthly production average for November 2021 was 140.01 million gallons per day.
The Board of Water Supply rainfall index for the month of November 2021 was 39 percent of normal, with a 5-month moving average of 77 percent. As of November 30, 2021, the Hawaii Drought Monitor showed a gradation from abnormally dry conditions on the windward side of Oahu to moderate drought conditions on the leeward side of the Koolau Mountains and Honolulu, and severe drought conditions for the rest of the island. The National Weather Service (NWS) is forecasting above-normal precipitation for December 2021. In addition, due to the present La Nina conditions, NWS is forecasting enhanced probabilities for above normal precipitation through the winter months and into Spring 2022.
Most monitoring wells exhibited stable to slightly decreasing head levels for the month, likely due to increased pumping during the fall dry season. Average monthly Production for November 2021 was higher than the previous year and the 5-year monthly average.
October 2021 Groundwater Levels Status Report
There were four aquifer index stations in low groundwater condition for the production month of October 2021. Waialua and Pearl City are in Caution Status. Kaimuki and Punaluu are in Alert Status. The monthly production average for October 2021 was 143.82 million gallons per day.
The Board of Water Supply rainfall index for the month of October 2021 was 74 percent of normal, with a 5-month moving average of 79 percent. As of November 2, 2021, the Hawaii Drought Monitor showed a gradation from abnormally dry to moderate drought conditions on the leeward side of Oahu from Honolulu to Ka'ena Point, and severe drought conditions on the leeward coast from Ewa Beach to Makaha. The National Weather Service (NWS) is forecasting below-normal precipitation for November 2021. However, according to NWS, La Nina conditions are now present across the Pacific Ocean. The transition from drier conditions in autumn to wetter conditions in winter across the Hawaiian Islands is consistent with the impacts of La Nina conditions. Therefore, NWS is forecasting above normal precipitation from December 2021 to Spring 2022.
Most monitoring wells exhibited stable to slightly decreasing head levels for the month, likely due to increased pumping during the summer and fall dry season. Average monthly Production for October 2021 was higher than the previous year and the 5-year monthly average.
September 2021 Groundwater Levels Status Report
There are four aquifer index stations in low groundwater condition for the production month of September 2021. Pearl City and Waialua are in Caution Status. Kaimuki and Punaluu are in Alert Status. The monthly production average for September 2021 was 144.01 million gallons per day.
The Board of Water Supply rainfall index for the month of September 2021 was 103 percent of normal, with a 5-month moving average of 74 percent. As of October 5, 2021, the Hawaii Drought Monitor showed a gradation from abnormally dry to moderate drought conditions on the leeward side of Oahu from Honolulu to Makaha, and severe drought conditions on the leeward coast from Pearl Harbor to Kapolei. The National Weather Service is forecasting above-normal precipitation as of November, due to current ENSO-neutral conditions likely transitioning to La Nina conditions by winter.
Most monitoring wells exhibited stable to slightly decreasing head levels for the month, likely due to increased pumping during the summer dry season. Average monthly production for September 2021 was lower than the previous year, and slightly lower than the 5-year monthly average.
August 2021 Groundwater Levels Status Report
There were three aquifer index stations in low groundwater condition for the production month of August 2021. Waialua is in Caution Status. Kaimuki and Punaluu are in Alert Status. The monthly production average for August 2021 was 150.48 million gallons per day.
The Board of Water Supply rainfall index for the month of August 2021 was 98 percent of normal, with a 5-month moving average of 66 percent. As of August 31, 2021, the Hawaii Drought Monitor showed a gradation from abnormally dry conditions along the leeward slopes of the Ko'olau Range to severe drought conditions along the leeward coast from Pearl Harbor to Makaha. The National Weather Service is forecasting below-normal precipitation through November, due to current ENSO-neutral conditions, with increasing probability of La Nina conditions and above-normal rainfall by winter.
Most monitoring wells exhibited stable to slightly decreasing head levels for the month, likely due to increased pumping during the summer dry season combined with relatively higher rainfall compared to recent months. Average monthly Production for August 2021 was slightly higher than the previous year and slightly lower than the 5-year monthly average.
July 2021 Groundwater Levels Status Report
There were three aquifer index stations in low groundwater condition for the production month of July 2021. Kaimuki and Waialua are in Caution Status. Punaluu is in Alert Status. The monthly production average for July 2021 was 150.86 million gallons per day.
The Board of Water Supply rainfall index for the month of July 2021 was 69 percent of normal, with a 5-month moving average of 88 percent. As of August 3, 2021, the Hawaii Drought Monitor showed abnormally dry conditions on the island of Oahu; with moderate drought conditions on the leeward side of the island from Honolulu to Haleiwa; and severe drought conditions along the leeward coast from Pearl Harbor to Makaha. The National Weather Service (NWS) is forecasting below normal precipitation for August 2021. Below-normal precipitation is likely through November, due to current ENSO-neutral conditions, with increasing probability of La Nina conditions by winter.
Most monitoring wells exhibited decreased head levels for the month, likely due to increased pumping during the summer dry season. Average monthly Production for July 2021 was higher compared to the previous year and the 5-year monthly average.
June 2021 Groundwater Levels Status Report
There were three aquifer index stations in low groundwater condition for the production month of June 2021. Kaimuki and Waialua are in Caution Status. Punaluu is in Alert Status. The monthly production average for June 2021 was 149.97 million gallons per day.
The Board of Water Supply rainfall index for the month of June 2021 was 51 percent of normal, with a 5-month moving average of 97 percent. As of July 6, 2021, the Hawaii Drought Monitor showed abnormally dry conditions on most of the island of Oahu, except for the Koolau Area on the windward side; and moderate drought conditions along the leeward coast from Honolulu to Makaha. The National Weather Service (NWS) is forecasting below normal precipitation for the summer months. NWS (through a presentation to the Oahu Drought Committee) is also predicting a late start to the winter wet season which may bring above average rainfall as current ENSO neutral conditions possibly transition to increasing chances of La Nina conditions by winter.
Most monitoring wells exhibited decreased head levels for the month, likely due to increased pumping during the summer dry season. Average monthly Production for June 2021 was slightly higher compared to the previous year and the 5-year monthly average. In order to help mitigate the declining head levels during the summer months we use social media outlets (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram), LIVE TV interviews, and our website to educate the public about water conservation. We also have the Water Sensible Program which offers rebates on clothes washers, rain barrels and weather-based irrigation controllers, and the Water Smart Program that gives customers access to their water use trends with conservation tips to reduce their water use.
May 2021 Groundwater Levels Status Report
There were two aquifer index stations in low groundwater condition for the production month of May 2021. Punaluu and Waialua are in Caution Status. The monthly production average for May 2021 was 140.91 million gallons per day.
The Board of Water Supply rainfall index for the month of May 2021 was 51 percent of normal, with a 5-month moving average of 125 percent. As of June1, 2021, the Hawaii Drought Monitor showed abnormally dry conditions on most of the island of Oahu, except for portions of the windward side; and moderate drought conditions from Pearl Harbor to Kapolei. The National Weather Service is forecasting below normal precipitation for the summer months.
Most monitoring wells exhibited decreased head levels for the month, likely due to increased pumping during the summer dry season. Average monthly Production for May 2021 was slightly higher compared to the previous year and the 5-year monthly average.
April 2021 Groundwater Levels Status Report
There were two aquifer index stations in low groundwater condition for the production month of April 2021. Punaluu and Waialua are in Caution Status. The monthly production average for April 2021 was 132.80 million gallons per day.
The Board of Water Supply rainfall index for the month of April 2021 was 63 percent of normal, with a 5-month moving average of 127 percent. As of May 4, 2021, the Hawaii Drought Monitor showed abnormally dry conditions for the island of Oahu. The National Weather Service is forecasting below normal precipitation for the coming summer months.
Most monitoring wells exhibited decreased head levels for the month, likely due to increased pumping because of decreased rainfall during the month. Average monthly Production for April 2021 was higher compared to the previous year and the 5-year monthly average.
March 2021 Groundwater Levels Status Report
There were two aquifer index stations in low groundwater condition for the production month of March 2021. Punaluu and Waialua are in Caution Status. The monthly production average for March 2021 was 121.01 milion gallons per day.
The Board of Water Supply rainfall index for the month of March 2021 was 208 percent of normal, with a 5-month moving average of 130 percent. As of April 6, 2021, the Hawaii Drought Monitor showed no dry conditions for the island of Oahu. The National Weather Service is forecasting La Nina conditions continuing through the spring months, with potential above-normal rainfall through June 2021.
Most monitoring wells exhibited increased head levels for the month due to decreased pumping and increased rainfall during the emonth. Average monthly Production for March 2021 was lower compared to the previous year and the 5-year monthly average.
February 2021 Groundwater Levels Status Report
There were two aquifers index stations in low groundwater condition for the production month of February 2021. Waialua is Caution Status, and Punaluu is in Alert status. The monthly production average for February 2021 was 124.77 million gallons per day, which is below the 5-year mothing average.
The Board of Water Supply rainfall index for the month of February 2021 was 110 percent of normal, with a 5-month moving average of 98 percent. As of March 2, 2021, the Hawaii Drought Monitor shows abnormally dry conditions along the leeward coast of Oahu from Ewa Beach to Makaha. The National Weather Service is forecasting La Nina conditions continuing through the spring months, with potential above-normal rainfall through June 2021.
Most monitoring wells (except for January 2021) have continued to exhibit decreasing trends during the Winter season, possibly due to below average rainfall from April to December 2020. Production during the same time period has usually been consistent with previous years. However, average monthly Production for February 2021 was below the previous year and the 5-year monthly average.
January 2021 Groundwater Levels Status Report
There was one aquifer index station in low groundwater condition for the produciton month of January 2021. Punaluu is in Caution status. The monthly production average for January 2021 was 127.56 million gallons per day, which is below the 5-year monthly average.
The Board of Water Supply rainfall index for the month of January 2021 was 194 percent of normal, with a 5-month moving average of 83 percent. As of February 2, 2021, the Hawaii Drought Monitor shows abnormally dray conditions through Central Oahu from Pearl Harbor to Ka'ena Point; and moderate drought conditions on the leeward coast from Ewa Beach to Makaha. The National Weather Service is forecasting La Nina conditions continuing through the spring months, with potential above-normal rainfall through July 2021.
Most monitoring wells exhibit stable to slightly increasing trends, likely reflecting increased rainfall during the past month along with slightly reduced production.
Updated: 12/13/2021