The issue of high-water leaks and wastage remain a pressing concern, despite the heavy downpour earlier this month that replenished the water intakes across the island.

The heavy rain that lasted over three hours on Tuesday, September 3, brought a much-needed surge of water.

However, it quickly revealed underlying inefficiencies in our infrastructure, according to the Rarotonga water authority, To Tatou Vai.

In the days following the downpour, water levels diminished significantly, highlighting a troubling trend – that even in the face of abundant rainfall, the island’s water systems are unable to retain adequate supplies.

To Tatou Vai chief executive Apii Timoti stated that the rain obviously resulted in fuller intakes but it brought only temporary relief.

Following Tuesday’s downpour, all the water intakes were above 83 per cent resulting in an increase in production exceeding 90 per cent level – 16,000m3 a day.

“This certainly provided increased pressure in the network allowing water to reach the higher ground areas,” Timoti said.

“The very next day (Wednesday) however production went down to 86 per cent...”

Timoti expressed that “high leaks and wastage” were the causes of the decrease in water production at the intakes.

“The conservation, including eliminating wastage and leaks, must continue,” he said.

“We do estimate that the island can be adequately sustained by 65 per cent, but elimination of wastage is key to this.”

For the past three months Rarotonga has been experiencing a dry spell with recorded rainfall of 82mm in June, 58.4mm in July and 49.4mm in August.