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For Immediate Release
March 7, 2019

BWS Statement on ASCE-Hawaii Infrastructure Report Card

HONOLULU – The Honolulu Board of Water Supply (BWS), the largest water utility in the state of Hawaii, actively seeks ways to improve the department’s operations and address our infrastructure needs to provide safe, dependable, and affordable drinking water to Oahu residents now and in the future. To that end, the BWS Board adopted a comprehensive 30-year Water Master Plan in October 2016. This effort was recognized in February 2018 by the American Water Works Association, the nation’s largest organization of water professionals.

We appreciate the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) effort to call attention to the nation’s infrastructure needs by publishing the Infrastructure Report Card. The first ASCE Hawaii Infrastructure Report Card is a start; however, there are tremendous opportunities to improve the process used to develop this report card.  The BWS is committed to working with the local ASCE Chapter to make these improvements.

The BWS was contacted once in May 2018 for a request for information. We provided the information that was requested and did not receive further contact until the day before the report card was shared publicly. BWS did not have an opportunity to review the report for accuracy as initially offered by the ASCE.

During the sole interaction, the BWS pointed ASCE to its www.boardofwatersupply.com website that features substantial information about various BWS long-term plans that address much of the criteria used in the infrastructure evaluation which include:

Over the years, the BWS has implemented various programs to address infrastructure concerns for public safety and resilience that includes hardening of our facilities, installation of back-up power at key pumping facilities, conducting climate change impacts studies, recycling and reusing of non-potable water and expanding water conservation programs.

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