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Kokua Line June Watanabe |
Board will test water
if quality concerns ariseQuestion: I called the Board of Water Supply to test my water and was told they don't do any testing. They said I would have to go to a private lab. I can't believe that a water agency won't test the water. Why not?
Answer: Probably because you did not indicate there was something wrong with your water.
The agency says it will test water if there are any concerns about its quality or safety.
However, if consumers are merely curious about their tap water and not experiencing problems with the municipal water supply, they would be directed to contact a private laboratory for any testing, explained Board of Water Supply spokeswoman Wanda Yamane.
The board receives a "fair number of calls" from residents who are not having any water quality problems but who simply want to know what's in their water or to have a laboratory test done, Yamane said.
By federal law, the agency must provide annual water quality reports to customers. It mails reports each May and June with results from the previous year's regular testing programs. The reports list the sources of each area's water supply and what chemicals or microbes, if any, might be found in the water, Yamane said.
You can also get the reports by calling 748-5370, or by going online to www.hbws.org and clicking on "Water Quality Report" in the Water Resources/ Quality section.
That all noted, Yamane said that both the Board of Water Supply and the state Department of Health regularly test drinking water for safety and quality. The board takes water samples at its source facilities and from a variety of locations within the community, she said.
When a customer does contact the agency because of concerns over water quality in the home, the board will investigate and may draw a water sample to test, Yamane said.
"Although a customer is legally responsible for the water system within his/her property, the BWS usually tries to help the customer in resolving problems inside his/her property," she said.
Q: How can we obtain rules and regulations for vehicle reconstruction laws in Hawaii? My son is having problems with getting reconstruction. It seems to depend on who checks out your vehicle if you can pass on certain things. If the kids can have a copy of the laws, then they wouldn't have this kind of problem. Actually, the reconstruction station should make some kind of booklet for people to pick up. Some people can go up to four times before passing.
A: You can get a copy of the regulations free off the Internet, or you can call the state Department of Transportation and purchase a copy for $1.25.
Go to the DOT's Web site on administrative rules for state highways -- www.hawaii.gov dot/highways/adminrules/ruleshwy -- and click on Chapter 134, "Approval of Reconstructed Vehicles," under Subtitle 5.
Or, you can call the Transportation Department's Motor Vehicle Safety Office at 692-7655 to purchase a copy.
You have to specify the title, subtitle and chapter as given above.
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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.
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