Don’t let our water
supply run dry

Yes, we can all conserve water, and every gallon helps. When the top 10 consumers go through more than a billion gallons each month, saving by brushing our teeth without water is but a tiny drop in the bucket. The Board of Water Supply says the top three consumers are the three levels of government. Three hotels, two corporations and two golf courses round out the Top 10.

Everyone has seen water wasted. I have reported automatic sprinklers watering park grass while it's pouring rain, my car being soaked by misdirected sprinklers meant for roadside grass, and leaking fire hydrants and water pipes.

Kaneohe Marine Corps Base is setting a standard others should follow, with low-flush toilets and a water-recycling plant for its golf course. Think of the savings if all Oahu's golf courses set up water-recycling plants. And if all hotels installed low-flush toilets.

Every business could find relatively painless ways to save thousands of gallons a month. Ordinary people would be more inclined to sacrifice if they believed the mega-users were making more of an effort to do their part.

Charlotte Phillips

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