Table cards like this will be used as a reminder to consumers at restaurants and bars that water service is no longer automatic under expanded voluntary conservation measures.
Water-saving
measures broadenRestaurant patrons will be
served a glass only upon request
as other steps fall short
Hot summer it is, but restaurant patrons shouldn't expect a glass of cool water when they take their seats at the table.
Hotels, restaurants and bars are being reminded to restore the "water upon request" rule as the Honolulu Board of Water Supply cranks up its campaign to increase voluntary water conservation.
Manager and chief engineer Clifford Jamile told the Board of Water Supply's monthly meeting yesterday that the Aug. 2 call for residents and businesses to cut back on irrigating lawns and landscaping brought a 5 percent reduction in water usage. It fell short of the agency's goal of 10 percent, an effort to offset declining ground-water tables and rainfall that was 47 percent of normal in July.
Consumers are being reminded about conservation not just with restaurant table tents about drinking water, but with notices distributed by Board of Water Supply field staff, from meter readers to repair crews, who are enlisted as "irrigation patrol."
A resident observed wasting water will get a "Please Kokua" notice with a warning that if usage is not diminished, "we may have to make this program mandatory, and violators may be subject to having flow restrictors installed," Jamile said.
If consumption rises to the 178 million gallons-per-day level recorded in the week ending July 23, "we will implement mandatory restrictions right away," Jamile said. Usage was at 170.78 million gallons per day in the week ending Wednesday.
Jamile said the conservation awareness effort initiated in hotels and restaurants is relevant to residents.
Visitors will find leaflets in hotel rooms reminding that they could:
>> Save three gallons a minute by turning off the tap while brushing teeth or shaving.Hotels are among the largest agency customers, and "they could really make a difference," Jamile said.>> Save 20 gallons by taking a short shower instead of a tub bath.
>> Save two gallons per flush by putting trash in a wastebasket rather than flushing it away.
>> Save laundry water use by voluntarily waiving the hotel service of changing bed linen daily.
He is still optimistic that education efforts and voluntary compliance will be sufficient. Jamile said: "I see a lot of brown yards. People are trying. These five years of drought are taking their toll."
The public is asked to limit irrigation to Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays before 10 a.m. or after 6 p.m. City and state agencies are holding to a Monday-Wednesday-Friday schedule.
Water waste may be reported by calling 748-5041. The Board of Water Supply will follow up by calling the customer with information and a request for compliance.
The record consumption of 180 million gallons per day was recorded in the week ending June 4.
The only time the Board of Water Supply imposed mandatory water conservation measures was in July 1984. It continued through Dec. 7, 1984, and was followed by three more months of voluntary cutbacks in usage.
The mandated 10 percent cutback by each consumer provided for escalating steps of enforcement from a written warning, installation of a flow restrictor and the potential of termination of service.
