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2024 Groundwater Status Reports
December 2024 Groundwater Levels Status Report
Three aquifer index stations were in low groundwater condition for the production month of December 2024. Waialua and Punalu'u are in Caution Status. Kaimuki is in Alert Status. The monthly production average for December 2024 was 137.21 million gallons per day.
The Board of Water Supply rainfall index for the month of December 2024 was 17 percent of normal, with a 5-month moving average of 68 percent. As of January 7, 2025, the Hawai'i Drought Monitor shows drought conditions across the entire island of O'ahu, with moderate drought conditions over most of the island, grading to extreme drought conditions along the leeward coast.
The National Weather Service had been forecasting above-normal precipitation through March 2025; they are currently forecasting above-normal precipitation in January 2025, with no predictions further ahead in time. Their Precipitation Summary for December 2024 notes that "December is usually one of the wettest months of the year across the State of Hawai'i. Long range projections generated in early Fall 2024 favored above normal precipitation for the month. The end result painted a very different picture, with below average December totals at most locations across the main Hawaiian Islands.
Drought areas increased in size and intensity instead of easing. Rather than low pressure systems nearby producing episodes of heavy rain, many days in December featured stable conditions with a surface ridge of high pressure over or just north of the state.
Monitoring wells exhibited an almost equal number of stable, slightly increasing, and slightly decreasing head levels for the month of December 2024. This likely reflects combined effects of increased production relative to the prior month but lower than summer maximums, and significantly low rainfall following two months of higher/above normal rainfall. Average monthly production for December 2024 is higher than November 2024 and higher than the 5-year monthly average.
November 2024 Groundwater Levels Status Report
Three aquifer index stations were in low groundwater condition for the production month of November 2024. Waialua is in Caution Status. Kaimuki and Punalu'u are in Alert Status. The monthly production average for November 2024 was 133.78 million gallons per day.
The Board of Water Supply rainfall index for the month of November 2024 was 80 percent of normal, with a 5-month moving average of 83 percent. As of December 3, 2024, the Hawai'i Drought Monitor shows a band of abnormally dry conditions running through the central axis and northern and southern coastlines of O'ahu, grading to severe drought conditions along the leeward coast. The National Weather Service is forecasting above-normal precipitation through March 2025.
Most monitoring wells exhibited stable head levels for the month of November 2024. This likely reflects the seasonal decrease in production. Average monthly production for November 2024 is less than November 2023 and close to the 5-year monthly average.
October 2024 Groundwater Levels Status Report
Three aquifer index stations were in low groundwater condition for the production month of October 2024. Punalu'u and Waialua are in Caution Status. Kaimuki is in Critical Status (Subsequent water level measurements at Kaimuki show a slightly rising trent, over 20 feet MSL by beginning of November). The monthly production average for October 2024 was 142.35 million gallons per day.
The Board of Water Supply rainfall index for the month of October 2024 was 120 percent of normal, a 5-month moving average of 79 percent. As of November 5, 2024, the Hawai'i Drought Monitor shows a band of abnormally dry conditions running through the central axis of O'ahu, grading to severe drough conditions along the leeward coast. The National Weather Service is forecasting above-normal precipitation through March 2025.
Most monitoring wells exhibited stable head levels for the month of October 2024. This likely reflects average. the higher rainfall and the season decrease in production. Average monthly production for October 2024 is slightly less than October 2023 and close to the 5-year monthly average.
September 2024 Groundwater Levels Status Report
Three aquifer index stations were in low groundwater condition for the production month of September 2024. Punalu'u and Waialua are in Caution Status. Kaimuki is in Critical Status. The monthly production average for September 2024 was 145.80 million gallons per day.
The Board of Water Supply rainfall index for the month of September 2024 was 40 percent of normal, with a 5-month moving average of 112 percent. As of October 1, 2024, the Hawai'i Drought Monitor shows a band of abnormally dry conditions running through the central axis of O'ahu, grading to severe drought conditions along the leeward coast. The National Weather Service is forecasting a period of transition from below-normal to above-normal precipitation from about October through December 2024.
Monitoring wells exhibited an almost equal distribution of stable, slightly increasing, and slightly decreasing head levels for the month of September 2024. This likely reflects the low rainfall, offset by the beginning of a seasonal decrease in production. The average monthly production for September 2024 is closely similar to September 2023 and the 5-year monthly average.
August 2024 Groundwater Levels Status Report
Four aquifer index stations were in low groundwater condition for the production month of August 2024. Pearl City, Punalu'u and Waialua are in Caution Status. Kaimuki is in Alert Status. The monthly production average for August 2024 was 146.55 million gallons per day.
The Board of Water Supply rainfall index for the month of August 2024 was 81 percent of normal, with a 5-month moving average of 140 percent. As of September 3, 2024, the Hawai'i Drought Monitor shows abnormally dry conditions across the north-east half (the Ko'olau Range) of the island of O'ahu, with moderate drought conditions across the western portion of the island (the Wai'anae Range), to severe drought conditions along the leeward coasts. The National Weather Service is forecasting below-normal precipitation through October 2024.
Most monitoring wells exhibited stable to slightly decreasing head levels for the month of August 2024, likely reflecting the seasonal increase in production. Average monthly production for August 2024 was slightly lower than for August 2023, and a little below the 5-year monthly average. Continued conservation messaging is recommended through the fall of 2024.
July 2024 Groundwater Levels Status Report
Four aquifer index stations were in low groundwater condition for the production month of July 2024. Pearl City, Punalu'u, and Waialua are in Caution Status. Kaimuki is in Alert Status. The monthly production average for July 2024 was 144.62 million gallons per day.
The Board of Water Supply rainfall index for the month of July 2024 was 93 percent of normal, with a 5-month moving average of 135 percent. As of August 6, 2024, the Hawai'i Drought Monitor shows moderate drought conditions across O'ahu, with severe drought conditions along the leeward coast. The National Weather Service is forecasting below normal precipitation through October 2024.
Most monitoring wells exhibited stable to slightly decreasing head levels for the month of July 2024, likely reflecting the seasonal increase in production. Average monthly production for July 2024 was higher than for July 2023 and similar to the 5-year monthly average. Increased conservation messaging is recommended over the summer months.
June 2024 Groundwater Levels Status Report
Four aquifer index stations were in low groundwater condition for the production month of June 2024. Kaimuki, Pearl City, Punalu'u, and Waialua are in Caution Status. The monthly production average for June 2024 was 138.70 million gallons per day.
The Board of Water Supply rainfall index for the month of June 2024 was 61 the percent of normal, with a 5-month moving average of 133 percent. The Hawai'i Drought Monitor shows abnormally dry conditions across the entire island of O'ahu. The National Weather Service is forecasting below-normal precipitation through at least October 2024.
Most monitoring wells exhibited slightly increasing head levels for the month of June 2024, likely reflecting the relatively high rainfall in April and May. Average monthly production for June 2024 was slightly higher than for June 2023 but lower than the 5-year monthly average. Increased conservation messaging is recommended over the summer months.
May 2024 Groundwater Levels Status Report
Four aquifer index stations were in low groundwater condition for the production month of May 2024. Kaimuki, Pearl City, Punalu'u, and Waialua are in Caution Status. The monthly production average for May 2024 was 127. 73 million gallons per day.
The Board of Water Supply rainfall index for the month of May 2024 was 283 percent of normal, with a 5-month moving average of 131 percent. As of June 4, 2024, the Hawai'i Drought Monitor shows no drought conditions across O'ahu. The National Weather Service is forecasting below-normal precipitation through at least October 2024.
Most monitoring wells exhibited stable to slightly increasing head levels for the month of May 2024, likely reflecting the seasonal lower production combined with relatively high rainfall for the past two months. Average monthly production for May 2024 was very similar to May 2023 and lower than the 5-year monthly average. Increased conservation messaging is recommended over the summer months.
April 2024 Groundwater Levels Status Report
Five aquifer index stations were in low groundwater condition for the production month of April 2024. Kaimuki, Pearl City, Waipahu, Punalu'u and Waialua are in Caution Status. The monthly production average for April 2024 was 132.49 million gallons per day.
The Board of Water Supply rainfall index for the month of April 2024 was 182 percent of normal, with a 5-month moving average of 101 percent. As of April 30, 2024, the Hawai'i Drought Monitor shows no drought conditions across O'ahu. The National Weather Service is forecasting below-normal precipitation through at least July 2024 and possibly as late as November 2024.
Most monitoring wells exhibited stable to slightly decreasing head levels for the month of April 2024, likely reflecting the seasonal lower production combined with relatively low rainfall in recent months. Average monthly production for April 2024 was higher than April 2023, slightly higher than the 5-year monthly average. Increased conservation messaging is recommended into mid-2024.
March 2024 Groundwater Levels Status Report
Six aquifer index stations were in low groundwater condition for the production month of March 2024. Kaimuki, Moanalua, Pearl City, Kaluanui and Waialua are in Caution Status. Punalu'u is in Alert status. The monthly production average for March 2024 was 130. 71 million gallons per day.
The Board of Water Supply rainfall index for the month of March 2024 was 53 percent of normal, with a 5-month moving average of 89 percent. As of April 2, 2024, the Hawai'i Drought Monitor shows abnormally dry conditions across O'ahu, with moderate drought conditions along the leeward coast west of Pearl Harbor. The National Weather Service is forecasting below-normal precipitation through at least June 2024 and possibly as late as October 2024.
Most monitoring wells exhibited stable to slightly decreasing head levels for the month of March 2024, likely reflecting the seasonal lower production combined with relatively low rainfall in recent months. The average monthly production for March 2024 was slightly higher than March 2023 and the 5-year average. Increased conservation messaging is recommended into mid-2024.
February 2024 Groundwater Levels Status Report
Five aquifer index stations were in low groundwater condition for the production month of February 2024. Kaimuki, Moanalua, Pearl City, Punalu'u, and Waialua are in Caution Status. The monthly production average for February 2024 was 127.10 million gallons per day.
The Board of Water Supply rainfall index for the month of February 2024 was 87 percent of normal, with a 5-month moving average of 84 percent. As of March 5, 2024, the Hawai'i Drought Monitor shows abnormally dry conditions across the southwestern half of O'ahu. The National Weather Service is forecasting below-normal precipitation through June 2024.
Most monitoring wells exhibited slightly increasing head levels for the month of February 2024, primarily reflecting the seasonal lower production. Average monthly production for February 2024 was higher than February 2023 and similar to the 5-year monthly average. Increased conservation messaging is recommended into mid-2024.
January 2024 Groundwater Levels Status Report
Seven aquifer index stations were in low groundwater condition for the production month of January 2024. Kaimuki, Moanalua, Pearl City, Waipahu, Punalu'u, Kaluanui and Waialua are in Caution Status. The monthly production average for January 2024 was 125.80 million gallons per day.
The Board of Water Supply rainfall index for the month of January 2024 was 52 percent of normal, with a 5-month moving average of 79 percent. As of February 6, 2024, the Hawai'i Drought Monitor shows no drought conditions across O'ahu. The National Weather Service is forecasting below-normal precipitation through June 2024.
Most monitoring wells exhibited stable to slightly increasing head levels for the month of January 2024, primarily reflecting the seasonal lower production. Average monthly production for January 2024 was lower than January 2023 and similar to the 5-year monthly average. Increased conservation messaging is recommended into mid-2024.
Updated: 12/09/2024