Water levels in the Rarotonga catchments have quickly fallen again as the island hopes for more rain.

To Tatou Vai (TTV), Rarotonga’s water agency, is concerned that people continue to fill their swimming pools and ignore water conservation notices.

Although Rarotonga received a bit of much-needed rain over the Christmas and New Year break and some intermittent drizzles, the moisture has been sucked into the ground quickly. To Tatou Vai continues to send out clear water conservation messages to the community, farmers, and tourism operators as dry El Niño conditions persist in the Cook Islands.

Tereapii Timoti, chief executive officer of To Tatou Vai, said that while there are a few who are taking note of water conservation, he is disappointed by the many who are not taking heed of the requests

“People are not cooperating,” said Timoti.

“Swimming pools are still being emptied and filled.”

To Tatou Vai continue to receive calls about people water blasting, running taps at beaches, running water at pig pens and plantations, leaking pipes, swimming pools, water being extracted from the network by water collectors and more.

Timoti said a key observation they have made is that those on the lower grounds, who probably never run out of water, are the ones who are wasting water.

“We would like to ask those who live on the lower ground to be considerate and to think about those on higher grounds,” he said.

“The more water that stays in the network the better as the network will stay pressurised – hence more people will get water.”

Meanwhile, in Aitutaki, there are still homes without running water since mid-last year. One of the island residents has posted on social media looking for advice on constructing a water well in Amuri.