Posted on: Monday, March 21, 2005

By Jan TenBruggencate
Advertiser Science Writer

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources has decided it is using too much water and spending too much money for it.

The agency spends $61,000 monthly on the 31 million gallons of water it uses each month at its offices and facilities statewide. That's almost three-quarters of a million dollars a year for water alone.

The department has a goal of 10 percent savings, and a new plan would get it halfway there.

The DLNR's Commission on Water Resource Management has developed a water-conservation plan that it figures will save the department 1.2 million gallons and more than $31,000 a year after it retrofits just five facilities.

"Efforts at the state level have been limited to only a few water-conservation initiatives, which have not been coordinated or developed in a manner that would facilitate statewide implementation. We hope to use DLNR's efforts as a model for other state agencies," said Chairman Peter Young.

The agency developed specific conservation plans for each of the five facilities: the Kalanimoku State Office Building, Kaka'ako Waterfront Park, Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor, Honokohau Small Boat Harbor in Kona and its forestry base yard in Hilo.

The sites are quite varied in use: a building, a park, a working base yard, an urban harbor with lots of boats permanently in slips, and a rural harbor where much more activity involves boats launched on the ramp.

Some of the proposed water-use changes also could save money in office buildings and even homes.

The first has been a longtime recommendation for water saving: installing low-flow or low-volume fixtures such as faucets, showers and toilets.

The agency also will upgrade its irrigation systems to save water. It plans to put up signs urging people to conserve water, and to develop educational programs for staff training.

In certain areas, DLNR officials plan to install sub-meters. For example, Young said, separate meters might be installed in small-boat harbors' washdown facilities and the boat slips, to show boaters where their heaviest uses are and determine where savings can be accomplished.

The state agency plans to apply what it learns in this project to its statewide facilities, and to spread the knowledge to other departments.

If you have an issue, question or concern about the Hawaiian environment, drop a note to Jan TenBruggencate, The Advertiser's Kaua'i Bureau chief and its science and environment writer. Reach him at jant@honoluluadvertiser.com, or (808) 245-3074, or at P.O. Box 524, Lihu'e, HI 96766.