Big water users ignore request for conservation

 By Mike Gordon
Advertiser Staff Writer

Tips for water conservation • Check sprinkler system for leaks, adjust sprinkler head to eliminate over-spray. • Install a sub-meter to your garden hose to measure and control water usage. • Use mulch around plants to reduce evaporation and minimize use of water by the plants. Source: Board of Water Supply

Only 10 responded to the June request.

Among the positive responses: Gov. Linda Lingle said she would ask all state agencies to cut back. The city's parks and recreation department said it would water lawns before 10 a.m. Marines Corps Base Hawai'i in Kane'ohe said it built in numerous conservation devices in new homes and remodeled base homes.

"Either they give us an excuse or they say what good they've done," said Barry Usagawa, water resources principal executive for the board. "They say they are trying to conserve but what about the other 90?"

Usagawa said the board plans to send staffers to meet personally with companies and users that did not respond.

"We want to go visit them and meet with the guys who manage the water on their properties to show them they have a role to play," he said. "Everything adds up."

The 100 biggest users include city, state and federal agencies, Hawaiian Electric Co. and Waikiki hotels and restaurants.

The University of Hawai'i yesterday announced that it has entered into a conservation partnership with the Honolulu Board of Water Supply to reduce consumption by 10 percent at the Manoa campus.

UH uses about 367 million gallons a year, making the campus one of the largest water consumers on the island. To reduce consumption, the university will replace all faucets, shower heads and toilets with low-flow fixtures.

University officials hope to save about 37 million gallons annually.

The request to conserve water was prompted by five years of drought and dropping water levels in O'ahu's aquifers, the same reasons that prompted a similar plea to the public on Saturday.

The water board is hoping to reduce overall demand by 10 percent. If that doesn't happen, mandatory water restrictions could be imposed.

Whether the responses are an indication of how the public will respond is too early to tell, but water officials say they have to do something, and soon.

Weekly consumption figures, measured in millions of gallons per day, have risen steadily since January, when officials recorded a use of 156.36 million gallons per day. Consumption hit an all-time high in May with 180 million gallons per day.

There is no single villain, no single business or community that is hogging water, Usagawa said. But areas with new construction are prime targets.

"They use a tremendous amount of water for dust control," he said.

To control dust and dirt from getting into the air, construction companies saturate the ground with water. Although some use recycled water, many simply plug into fire hydrants, he said.

"Any kind of construction, they use a lot," he said. "And when they build new, they landscape and they use a lot of water. They have to establish the root system."

The water board plans to ask 10 to 20 key developers this week to use non-potable water whenever possible, such as the recycled water that comes from the city wastewater treatment plant in 'Ewa, Usagawa said.

The water board took its request to the public because thousands of single-family homes can add up quickly, he said.

"If everyone saves 8 percent to 10 percent, we will hit our goal," he said. "If everyone can save 15 gallons per day, we will hit our goal."

Among a homeowner's worst water abusers: toilets, which account for an estimated 26 percent of daily use, washing machines and showers.

"If you look at it that way, people will say, 'My vote counts,' " he said. "If you say it like that, people will understand it."

But Honolulu water users say they're not using more water than usual.

Norman Park of Kalihi said he's not doing anything that he hasn't been doing for years.

"I water the lawn everyday at around 6 p.m. for about 25 minutes," said Park, a 46-year-old elementary school teacher.

"I've been doing it this way for about eight years, but I'll cut it down to three days a week if it will help things."

Tetsuo "Thomas" Nakama of Kaimuki said he remembers when the island was under mandatory water restriction and he said he'll voluntarily conserve water to avoid the "hassles of being on a watering schedule."

Nakama, 74, said his lawn will suffer, but it wouldn't be the first time. "I've had an ugly front yard before," he said. "But that's life, right? Now I'll just wait for it to rain and hope that fixes the problem."

Susan Rego of Kaimuki said washing the family's three cars once a week and watering her large front and back yards everyday is probably not helping things.

"I felt really bad when I heard about the shortage. I haven't been doing anything to conserve," said Rego, a nurse and mother of four teenagers. "I'll certainly be more cautious and I would rather do it voluntarily than have it be mandatory. Plus, my kids will be thrilled that they can only water the grass three times a week."

Advertiser staffers Kawehi Haug and Curtis Lum contributed to this report. Reach Mike Gordon at mgordon@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8012.