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Food Service Incentive Program

The Honolulu Board of Water Supply (BWS) is now offering a water conservation incentive program to the food service category. Through the program, participating food service operations will be given the opportunity to install a high-efficiency aerators and/or high-efficiency pre-rinse spray nozzles as a means of conserving water and to helping to lower their water bill.

Pre-Rinse Spray Valve

water sensible food service program pre-rinse spray nozzle
(Spec Sheet)

Spray Faucet Aerator

water sensible food service program aerators
(Spec Sheet)


Saving Water in Restaurants

watersense logoRestaurants can use a lot of water, with the largest uses taking place in the kitchen and restrooms. A number of resouces are available to help restaurants manage their water use more effectively, including these WaterSense® guides from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA):


Drinking Water Upon Request

In an effort preserve and protect Oahu's finite water resources, the BWS adopted a rule, effective January 1, 1992, prohibiting automatic serving of water to customers at Oahu restaurants.


drinking water on request only

Did You Know:

Every glass of water served in a restaurant requires another two glasses of water to wash and rinse the glass!
Be water sensible. Help us conserve Oahu's water supply. Please serve water only on request.

Table Tent Cards:

- Download Tent Card
  (When printing, do not
   select the "Fit to Printer
   Margins" setting.)
- Online Order Form
  (Pick-Up Orders Only)
  

BWS Drinking Water Upon Request (Section 2-209, 5) Rule

The Department (Board of Water Supply) shall restrict the serving of drinking water to any customer unless expressly requested at any restaurant, hotel, café or cafeteria, or any other place where food is sold, served, or offered for sale. These restrictions shall not apply to catered groups of 25 or more people. Failure to comply with these requirements may result in the imposition of a fifty-dollar ($50.00) special assessment for each violation, or in the discontinuation of water service and/or penalties as authorized in Section 2-205, 2b and Section 5-501 of these Rules and Regulations.

The BWS asks restaurants for their kokua in reminding staff and customers of this regulation. Under the rule, staff may serve water upon request or may ask the customer if they want to be served a glass of water.

Water Upon Request Table Tent Cards

Oahu restaurateurs are invited to use a "water upon request" table tent card produced by the BWS. Download the card or request an order for pick-up, while supplies last.

restaurant table tent cards


Updated: 07/27/2022