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For Immediate Release
October 21, 2020

Residents Statewide Are Asked to “Imagine A Day Without Water” on October 21, 2020

City and State agencies partner to emphasize the value of water in our daily lives

HONOLULU – The Board of Water Supply (BWS) is partnering with various city and state agencies to encourage residents across the State of Hawaii to Imagine A Day Without Water on Wed., Oct. 21, 2020. This includes the City’s Departments of Environmental Services, Facility Maintenance; and Office of Climate Change, and Sustainability and Resiliency. Also participating are the State of Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources Commission on Water Resource Management, and Division of Forestry and Wildlife; Department of Health Safe Drinking Water Branch; University of Hawaii’s College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources; and Kauai and Maui county water departments.
 
Each agency manages some form of water and is 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.
 
This statewide campaign reaches out to inform water users of the integral role of water in our regular activities, encourage them to value it more, and inspire easy lifestyle changes that contribute to the improved health and sustainability of our island home. Water also continues to play an especially critical role in our community by protecting public health, safeguarding the environment, and making a healthy economy possible, as demonstrated by the current pandemic.
 
This campaign has two components to engage its water users:

  • Virtual event: Wednesday, October 21, at noon on Facebook LIVE starting with an interactive “One Water” themed forum, followed by informative and educational videos from each agency. Find out how the BWS delivers safe, dependable, and affordable water to residents on Oahu.
  • Social media outreach: Be sure to check Facebook to learn about the value of water and the importance of water infrastructure through informative posts and a 10-day countdown leading up to the event.

For more information about the Imagine A Day Without Water and the Facebook LIVE event, please visit the BWS’s Facebook Events page at www.facebook.com\BWSHonolulu or the BWS's website at www.boardofwatersupply.com/imagine2020.

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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 about the BWS, visit www.boardofwatersupply.com.

About the City Department of Environmental Services

The Department of Environmental Services (ENV) manages O‘ahu’s wastewater resources and opala, which includes trash, recycling and green waste collection and disposal. Every day ENV collects and treats about 110 million gallons of wastewater and gathers opala from our curbs six days a week.  ENV’s mission is to protect public health and the environment by providing effective and efficient management of wastewater and solid waste for the City and County of Honolulu.  ENV is serious about its responsibility to lay the best plans for the future, while working within fiscal constraints of the present to educate the public on measures protecting the public health and the environment.
 
About the City Department of Facility Maintenance - Storm Water Quality 

The mission of the SWQ Division is to empower and provide guidance for the public on effective ways to minimize our impact on water quality in order to protect public health and the beauty of Oahu. For more information about the SWQ Division and upcoming volunteer opportunities, please visit www.cleanwaterhonolulu.com.

About the City Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency

The Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency (Resilience Office) develops and integrates sustainable and environmental values into city plans, programs and policies. Through specific actions within the Resilience Strategy <https://resilientoahu.org/resilience-strategy> , the Resilience Office supports City agencies in progressing the impacts and goals for conservation, recharge, and reuse within the Hawai‘i Freshwater Initiative.
 
About the State of Hawaii's Department of Land and Natural Resources' Commission on Water Resource Management

The Commission on Water Resource Management (Commission) administers the State Water Code and our mission is to protect and manage the waters of the State of Hawai‘i for present and future generations.  There are seven members on the Commission, which is attached to the State of Hawaii’s Department of Land and Natural Resources.  The Commission’s staff is comprised of the Planning, Ground Water Regulation, and Stream Protection and Management Branches.  Commission staff primary responsibilities are to implement and administer the programs and policies of the State Water Code through monitoring, long-range planning, permitting and other resource management strategies. https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/cwrm/

About the State of Hawaii's Department of Land and Natural Resources' Division of Forestry and Wildlife

The mission of DLNR’s Division of Forestry and Wildlife is to responsibly manage and protect watersheds, native ecosystems, and cultural resources and provide outdoor recreation and sustainable forest products opportunities, while facilitating partnerships, community involvement and education. Mālama i ka ‘āina.

About the State of Hawaii's Department of Health Safe Drinking Water Branch 

The mission of the Safe Drinking Water Branch of the Department of Health is to safeguard public health by protecting Hawaii's drinking water sources (surface water and groundwater) from contamination and assure that owners and operators of public water systems provide safe drinking water to the community.

About the University of Hawaii’s College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resource

Did you know the University of Hawaiʻi moved to its present location in Mānoa, partly in order to be close to fresh water for its Agriculture and Livestock program?

More than 100 years later, the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources continues to stress the importance of access to water for our researchers, students, farmers and ranchers.
They’re not the only ones. Every piece of food you’ve ever eaten, from fruits and vegetables to steak and fish to ice cream and chocolate, were all grown or raised with the help of water. Because without water, We. Don’t. Eat.

CTAHR, the founding college of the UH system, is proud to present video testimonials from eight Student Ambassador as they Imagine a Day Without Water. Mahalo! to Cody Ching, Nicole Acasio, Kaya Milos, Michelle Au, Jessie Orozco, Arby Barone, and Kenneth Choi for your wonderful (and at times, hilarious) takes on the importance of water.

Please visit CTAHR’s Facebook, Twitter or Instagram to view our student videos.

About the Kaua’i Department of Water

"The Kaua’i Department of Water, a semi-autonomous agency of the County of Kaua’i manages Kaua’i’s drinking water services, resources and distribution systems.  Its mission statement, “Together, we provide safe, affordable and sufficient drinking water through wise management of our resources and with excellent customer service for the people of Kaua’i” is embraced by the Department, its employees and the Board of Water Supply Members.”

About the Maui County Department of Water Supply

The Maui Department of Water Supply, organized in 1949, is an agency of the County of Maui. We provide water that meets all state and federal water quality standards on Maui and Molokai and continuously work toward our mission, "to provide clean water efficiently."

 

Contact:

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