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For Immediate Release
March 07, 2022

The City's Board of Water Supply and Department of Environmental Services Recognize World Water Day, March 22, 2022


HONOLULU –  On March 22, 2022, join the City’s Board of Water Supply (BWS), Department of Environmental Services (ENV), government, and private agencies worldwide as they observe and highlight the importance of World Water Day, with this year’s theme being centered around groundwater – making the invisible visible. This event recognizes the vital need to protect our precious groundwater sources by raising awareness of the 2 billion people worldwide living without safe drinking water or sanitation.

All of Oahu’s municipal drinking water comes from groundwater sources. The importance of this resource has recently become top of mind, given the contamination of the Navy’s water system. Even though the BWS’s system has not been compromised, three nearby water sources have been shut down out of an abundance of caution to protect the system.

“With a limited supply of fresh drinking water for almost a million residents, it is crucial that we all work together to implement good water conservation practices to protect this resource,” said BWS Manager and Chief Engineer Ernest Lau. “It more important now than ever to protect our groundwater resources, as safe drinking water is an integral part of life, not just today but for the future.”

The pandemic has also been particularly challenging, placing extraordinary stresses on many countries that have fragile water and sanitation systems. Today, there are over 2 billion people who do not have access to sufficient water– a number that is rising.

The World Water Day event has three components to engage Oahu residents:

  • World Water Day “Online Puzzle Contest” – Starting Monday, March 7 through noon on Tuesday, March 22, take the challenge and complete the online shuffle puzzle as fast as you can. Go to www.boardofwatersupply.com/worldwaterday 
    to play. The first three participants who complete the puzzle the fastest and post their winning time on the BWS’s Instagram Page (@BWSHonolulu) will win a variety of prizes from the BWS and ENV, including a 35-gallon rain barrel. A complete list of prizes and contest rules can be found at www.boardofwatersupply.com/worldwaterday.
  • Video Vignettes/Educational Material: Go to www.boardofwatersupply.com/worldwaterday to learn about our groundwater sources, the meaning behind “One Water,” the importance of our aquifers and watersheds.  
     
  • Social media outreach:  Be sure to check out the BWS’s (@BWSHonolulu) and ENV’s (@CCH.ENV) social media pages, starting March 7, to learn about World Water Day and the importance of groundwater, which is out of sight, under our feet, and a hidden treasure which enriches our lives.

 

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, follow @BWSHonolulu or like the BWS’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/BWSHonolulu.

About the 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 107 million gallons of wastewater per day 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

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Contact:

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