LIHU‘E — In light of the large amount of water which has been falling from the sky over the past two weeks, water is the last thing on people’s minds. “The timing could be a little better,” said Mayor Bernard
LIHU‘E — In light of the large amount of water which has been falling from the sky over the past two weeks, water is the last thing on people’s minds.
“The timing could be a little better,” said Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. in proclaiming Mar. 11 through 17 as Detect-A-Leak Week.
The State Commission on Water Resource Management and its partner organizations, county water utilities on Hawai‘i, Kaua‘i, Maui and O‘ahu, and the Hawai‘i Rural Water Association will promote Detect-A-Leak Week, a public outreach program to raise awareness among all water users, and people should check their fixtures for leaks, states a proclamation by Gov. Neil Abercrombie.
“Nurturing and protecting Hawai‘i’s natural resources are ancient traditions in the Islands and water is the most valuable of these resources,” CWRM Chair William Aila Jr. said in a press release. “We must ensure future generations have enough clean, fresh water to use. We can all do our part by conserving water and eliminating waste by finding and repairing leaks in our homes and places of work.”
Regular leak detection and repairs not only preserves our water supply, it also helps consumers save money on their water and sewer bills while conserving energy, states the proclamation presented by Carvalho to Bill Eddy, Deputy Engineer of the Kaua‘i Department of Water, Clyde Nakaya and Randy Nishimura, members of the DOW Board.
“With water rates going up, it is ever more important to deal with leaks while they are small,” said David Craddick, the Kaua‘i DOW Manager and Chief Engineer.
To commemorate the event, the Kaua‘i DOW is hosting its conservation contest open to all fourth grade classes within the Department of Education system on Kaua‘i.
Last year was the first time the DOW hosted this contest, which was won by the Kilauea Elementary School and the winners enjoying a Subway Sandwich lunch prepared by the manager of the Lihu‘e sandwich store traveling to Kilauea to make the sandwiches fresh for the students.
Carvalho said the objective of the contest is to expand the students’ and their families’ awareness of conserving water by planting the seeds of knowledge.
The stewardship of our water resources is a basic component of effective water management, but millions of gallons of water are wasted each day through leaks in toilets, irrigation and cooling systems and other fixtures, the proclamation states.
The average American home can waste more than 10,000 gallons of water each year from running toilets, dripping faucets and other household leaks, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Visit www.kauaiwater.org for more information.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
