Rarotonga is facing a growing water crisis as a result of intermittent showers for nearly a month.

And some residents, especially those living in higher areas, are facing reduced pressure or no water in their taps.

Rarotonga’s water authority, To Tatou Vai (TTV), has been severely impacted by the lack of consistent rainfall, resulting in some residents struggling to access reliable running water in their homes or experiencing no running water at all on a daily basis.

TTV chief executive officer Apii Timoti said: “Currently, we are producing about 55 per cent (of water).”

Rarotonga’s predominant water source is surface water from springs and streams within the catchment valleys.

Low levels in the island’s water intakes places an immense strain on the local water distribution network.

According to TTV, all intakes on the island are affected with Avatiu, Takuvaine, Ngatoe, Totokoitu and Avana the most impacted by the lack of rainfall.

Five intakes are running between 30 per cent and 43 per cent capacity, four are running between 68 per cent and 84 per cent, “and just one intake is on full capacity but, it is one of the low head ones”.

According to TTV, although there is still water in the streams coming into the network “it is slow which directly affects pressure in the gravity fed Rarotonga water network”.

“Pressure is needed to push water up to those on the back road and elevated areas.”

Timoti says areas most affected by low water levels are those on the higher ground areas, mainly along the backroads and above.

He adds water carting services can collect water from two dedicated filling stations Rutaki and Avana only, as drawing directly from the network further reduces pressure, and worsens the situation.

Ruaau resident Ngamau Wichman-Tou said they have not had water for about a month.

“I have been carting water from my beach section to my home on the backroad in Ruaau. I have an 82-year-old mother living with me. So, you can understand the importance of having water for my fragile mother and my aunties and uncles down our street of the same age,” Wichman-Tou said.

“I got called in by TTV and they said that the network is not working in its full capacity so the water cannot be pushed up and we have to pay for all the carting of the water and if my mother needs financial assistance, (TTV) recommended that we go try the Internal Affairs to get some money to help pay for the water which will cost a little over a hundred dollars and will only last her two days.

Wichman-Tou said the carting companies on Friday told her that they were dealing with a lot of delivery.

“It takes three hours to fill up 2000 litres of tank and the TTV told us that we’re not allowed to take water off the main and that we needed to go to designated places in Rutaki.

“It’s problematic and it’s just not viable to go all the way out for $150 if you’re going to get only 2000 litres of water delivered.”

Wichman-Tou said she had to take matters into her own hands and cart water to her mum’s home after finding no solution following the meeting with TTV.

“They just said ‘we need the money from the water tariffs, to help us fix the problem with the system’ that they got that is not fully functional and that’s why we don’t get water in the back road.

“I told them, there’s water that’s gushing down there and that’s 5 metres above sea level and I’m at 12m above sea level.

Wichman-Tou said during a recent public consultation, TTV board chair Brian Mason said the water authority was obligated to supply water to those who are residing 30 metres or less above sea level.

“They have to and it’s legislated they have to (otherwise) we could take them to court.”

TTV chief executive Timoti said he was unable to meet Wichman-Tou on Friday last week as he was at another meeting when she came into their office.

“I did not call her back after learning that our William Tuivaga had discussed her concerns. Anyway, I had the opportunity to meet with her in person today, Monday 19^th August 24. We were able to better understand the challenges faced by all and the measures, current to medium and long term, that will help alleviate these were discussed,” Timoti said.

“It was discussed that TTV will continue to improve the performance of the water network so that it may be able to maintain adequate pressure to push water from the lower ground area to those on higher grounds, especially in situations where the water level at the intakes are consistently low. Tariffs are essential to fulfilling this obligation.

“In the immediate term, water can be collected from the two dedicated filling stations at Avana and Rutaki. All water collectors are aware of this arrangement but if necessary TTV can provide further directions. The extraction of water from the network is not permitted because it will only exacerbate the current problem, particularly when the network is already suffering from low pressure.”

To Tatou Vai had also anticipated the El Niño climate pattern that describes the unusual warming of surface waters in the eastern Pacific Ocean.

Timoti said they received advice from the Cook Islands Meteorological Service last week that the current weather pattern could continue for the next two months.

• Melina Etches/Talaia Mika