Detail of dripping faucet with water drop Photo: 123RF
Residents of Rarotonga are being asked to conserve water as dry El Niño conditions are likely to persist in the Southern Cook Islands.
To Tatou Vai's (TTV), Rarotonga's water agency, Walter Tuarae-White said water is still not reaching some inland homes on the gravity feed system.
"We've had a bit of a bump up from the recent rain but because it's been so dry, it gets sucked into the ground fairly quickly," Tuarae-White said.
"People think if a bit of rain comes we are ok but because we've been so dry it gets soaked up.
"Its given us a bit of a reprieve but we are on the side of being quite cautious."
Tuarae-White said the catchments are about 70 percent full.
He said TTV has been asking people to conserve water for over three months.
"We had a similar period last November, it was fairly dry so it seems to be quite a consistent trend.
"However, this year came a lot earlier, in October and leading up to Christmas, which is very rare."
'Water a concern'
In the second most populated outer island and popular tourist destination, Aitutaki, the message is for the public to also conserve water.
Aitutaki executive officer Tuaine George said the islands water supply is under pressure because of the high number of visitors, not because of a lack of rain.
George said most water problems stem from overseas visitors.
"Water is always a concern," he said.
"Our people are very accustomed to conservation and so most of our complaints that we receive are from our own people coming back from New Zealand and Australia.
"They forget because of their enjoyment of water supply in New Zealand and Australia, they think we are the same."
Cook Islands Meteorological Service director Arona Ngari said dry conditions are affecting the whole of the southern group and it's expected to continue in the coming months as El Niño persists.
Better planning
Cook Islands Tourism Industry Council president Liana Scott said the country should look into other ways to ensure water security, like desalination, instead of just relying on rain.
"Everyone talks about the weather getting more severe and climate change, I think we really need to be doing a little more forward planning," Scott, who also is the general manager of Muri Beach Club Hotel, said.
"Quite often we have droughts on the island, so I think some forward thinking is definitely going to be required at a higher level."
Scott said almost all accommodation providers properties have backup water supplies, which normally can last two weeks.
She said water conservation messaging also goes out to tourists on the island.
"They wouldn't know it at all, especially when you look around and everything's so lush.
"They kind of forget when you're on holiday that there are times that water needs to be conserved."
Scott said the Australians are good at being mindful, while sometimes "the Kiwis [and] maybe the Europeans don't quite understand".
Tuarae-White said there has been a mixed response to water conservation messages. Prior to the recent rain Tuarae-White said the situation was "quite dire" and some people were still water blasting shop fronts.
"We've had allegations going around and put out extra messaging to try and curb people."