News Release

For Immediate Release
October 5, 2018

Oahu Residents Asked to "Imagine A Day Without Water" on October 10

Three City Agencies Partner to Emphasize the Value of Water in our Lives

HONOLULU – The Board of Water Supply (BWS) and the city’s Department of Environmental Services (ENV) and Department of Facility Maintenance (DFM) are working together to encourage O‘ahu residents to “Imagine A Day Without Water” on Wednesday, October 10.

Each agency oversees some form of water for the city. BWS manages drinking water; ENV, wastewater; and DFM, stormwater. They are participating in a national one-day observance called “Imagine A Day Without Water,” which aims to educate people about the importance of water in their lives and to raise awareness about the need to invest in water infrastructure.

The local BWS-ENV-DFM campaign reaches out to inform O‘ahu water users of the integral role of water in our regular activities, encourages them to value it more, and hopefully inspires easy lifestyle changes that contribute to the improved health and sustainability of our island home.

“I’m glad that three city departments are working collaboratively to remind us that water touches almost every aspect of our daily existence and is an essential ingredient to our quality of life on O‘ahu,” said Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell, who will sign a proclamation to declare October 10 as Imagine A Day Without Water Day on O‘ahu. “Investing in our drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater systems, along with greater community stewardship, is essential to a strong and vibrant economy, while also helping us to become more resilient and sustainable.”

“Because we live on an island, we need to take care of our limited water resources and the systems that deliver them to the public,” said BWS Manager and Chief Engineer Ernest Lau. “If we each do our part to assist with these efforts, together we can ensure a resilient water supply in years to come.”

Oahu’s campaign has three components to engage its water users:

• In-person:  A Value Water booth will be set up on October 10 -- from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the BWS headquarters downtown, 630 S. Beretania Street, and from 9 a.m. to noon at Kapolei Hale, 1000 Uluohia Street. Visitors will receive educational handouts and a small giveaway to remind them to do their part in protecting and preserving our precious water resources.
• A social media video contest: Entrants need to post a 15-second video testimonial depicting what their day would be like without water.  Three grand prizes of a rain barrel will be awarded, with runners-up receiving prize packs with items from all three agencies.
• Social media outreach:  Posts started on September 28 to stimulate conversations in the digital world about drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater, and to promote the video contest.

For more information about the Imagine A Day Without Water and rules about the social media video contest, visit the BWS’s Facebook events page at www.facebook.com/BWSHonolulu or the BWS website at http://www.boardofwatersupply.com/valuewateroahu.

About the Board of Water Supply

The Board of Water Supply (BWS), a semi-autonomous agency of the City and County of Honolulu, manages Oahu’s municipal water resources and distribution system.  As the largest water utility in the State, the BWS serves approximately one million customers on Oahu.  The BWS embraces its mission of “Water for Life – Ka Wai Ola” – to provide a safe, dependable, and affordable water supply, now and into the future.  Uwē  ka lani, ola ka honua – “When the heavens weep, the earth lives.”  For more information, visit www.boardofwatersupply.com.

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Contact:

Kathleen Elliott-Pahinui
Information Officer
Honolulu Board of Water Supply
Phone: (808) 748-5319