bws logo black and white

For Immediate Release
August 22, 2018

Oahu Residents Encouraged to Prepare for Hurricane Lane

Prepare Your Emergency Water Supply by Taking It from the Tap

HONOLULU – www.boardofwatersupply.com – The Board of Water Supply (BWS) urges residents to have their emergency preparedness kits ready. The kit should include at least one gallon of water stored, per person, per day, for at least 14 days, for drinking and sanitation purposes. The easiest and most efficient way to prepare your emergency water supply is to take it from the tap.

How to Properly Store Water

  • Use clean containers. Do not use containers that stored food with strong odors (mayonnaise, pickles, etc.) as the water will pick up the odors during storage.
  • Disinfect containers. Wash containers thoroughly with soap and water. To ensure the container is sanitized, use one capful of an unscented liquid bleach to one gallon of water. Then, rinse thoroughly.
  • Fill container with water from the tap. Fill it to the top, keeping a minimal amount of air between the water and the cap. To ensure the water is safe to drink, add one drop of mild liquid bleach per gallon of water. Cap it and store it in a cool, dark place.
  • If you plan to store water for four weeks or longer, add one-half capful of unscented per gallon of water, cap and store in a cool, dark place.

More emergency preparedness information and a step-by-step video on how to properly store water is available at www.boardofwatersupply.com/emergencypreparedness. If everyone uses water wisely during the pre-emergency phase, the BWS's storage tanks and reservoirs will be better able to meet the essential demands of the community.

How to Stay Informed

The BWS is asking customers to stay tuned to news reports for updates. The BWS is actively monitoring Hurricane Lane and will issue bulletins and advisories – including when to take precautionary measures to secure an adequate water supply – through the City and County of Honolulu.

BWS offices will be closed Thursday and Friday due to the impending storm. If you have questions regarding hurricane preparedness, or are calling to report a water main break or other water emergency, please call 768-CITY. Residents also may sign up to receive email or text message alerts from BWS and other emergency response agencies through hnl.info. For all other service-related inquiries, please monitor news reports, 768-CITY and hnl.info for updates.

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.

###


Contact:

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