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Kokua Line June Watanabe |
Both residents, tourists
asked to save waterQuestion: Another summer and we residents are being cautioned to use water "wisely." What about tourists? Does the Board of Water Supply keep records on water usage per tourist per room in every hotel? Are hotels given a greater leeway with water usage?
Q: Can you warn readers to conserve water because of a state of emergency? They should stop car-wash benefits until we have more rain; to water lawns and plants for survival, not to flourish; and not to hose down driveways and sidewalks, but to use the broom.
Answer: With water levels low, everyone on Oahu is being asked to conserve water.
In fact, the Honolulu Board of Water Supply's low-groundwater committee will soon be coming out with recommendations for voluntary and mandatory restrictions, "which are likely to begin with some type of irrigation restrictions on all customers, large and small," said spokeswoman Denise DeCosta.
So if you're thinking about installing a lawn, she said "it would be wise" to postpone doing so until later this year.
"There may or may not be other restrictions, or conservation advisories, about car washes," DeCosta said. But this wouldn't apply to commercial car washes, which generally recycle their rinse water to conserve.
The agency's main message is to "use all the water that you need, but avoid wasting it."
Regarding tourists, many Waikiki hotels already have water conservation measures in place, including public awareness programs for guests, DeCosta said. She pointed out that the city several years ago mandated that all hotels install water-saving fixtures in guest rooms and public restrooms.
The Board of Water Supply does not keep records on individual rooms, but it does keep tabs on each hotel's consumption. DeCosta said it could get a rough estimate of per-room use if necessary.
The BWS has lots of tips for conserving water. Check its Web site at www.hbws.org or by calling 748-5041. Among the tips:
>> Turn off the water while brushing your teeth, which can save three gallons of water per minute.>> Don't use the toilet as an ashtray or wastebasket, since it is the biggest water user in the house, using up to five gallons of water with every flush. Put a plastic quart bottle filled with water in the tank to reduce flush water.
>> Install water-saving shower heads or flow restrictors and take shorter showers.
>> Wait until you have a full load before using your dishwasher, which can save 33 gallons. When washing dishes by hand, rinse them first in a sink filled with water, rather than under a running tap.
>> Use the garbage disposal only at the end of cooking or cleanup.
>> Check all faucets and pipes for leaks, which can save 15 gallon per minute, or 8,640 gallons per month.
>> Use a pail and sponge instead of a running hose to wash your car. Or, use a hose nozzle that shuts off when you are not wetting or rinsing the car.
>> Water lawns early in the morning or in the evening to minimize evaporation loss. Use mulch or grass clippings around plant bases to retain moisture.
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Got a question or complaint?
Call 529-4773, fax 529-4750, or write to Kokua Line,
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210,
Honolulu 96813. As many as possible will be answered.
E-mail to kokualine@starbulletin.com
