The Honolulu Board of Water Supply has asked residents and businesses between Aiea and Hawaii Kai to reduce water by 10% to prepare for the summer. Oahu’s low water supply is caused by an ongoing drought and the closure of multiple wells due to concerns of fuel contamination.

What You Need To Know

  • The Board of Water Supply launched a TV and radio campaign to encourage Oahu residents to conserve water

  • The announcements feature BWS’s Manager Ernie Lau who has become known for his response to the Red Hill fuel leak

  • The low-water supply is caused by the closing of multiple wells to prevent fuel contamination

  • Additionally, a state-wide drought is causing concerns about a lack of water

In order to get this message across, the BWS launched a TV and radio ad campaign. The public service announcements include BWS’s Manager and Chief Engineer Ernie Lau, who has become well-known for his transparent approach to addressing the impacts of the Navy’s Red Hill fuel leak. 

“Ernie’s concern is real,” said Kathleen Pahinui, BWS’s Public Information Officer in a press release. “With a decrease in average rainfall on Oahu and the current strain on our water system to meet demand, we hope the community will take these messages to heart so that we can avoid the need for more progressively restrictive conservation measures this summer.”

Officials are concerned about the lack of water because the state of Hawaii is currently in a drought. October to April is usually the rainy season, but the islands did not see the typical amount of rain. Now, Hawaii is headed into the dry season, which is cause for more worry. 

The U.S. Drought Monitor currently shows the drought impacting the entire state, with west Oahu, Molokai, east Lanai, southwest Maui in a severe drought, and the north tip of Hawaii Island in an extreme drought.

In addition to the drought, the Board of Water Supply has closed two of its wells. The Halawa Well on Oahu was closed on December 3, after BWS learned the Navy’s water system was contaminated with fuel following a leak at the Navy’s Red Hill Storage Facility. The fuel contamination was confirmed at the Navy’s Red Hill Well, which is less than a mile from the BWS’s Halawa Well. Closing the Halawa Well resulted in a 20% decrease in the water supply for Honolulu. 

Shortly after, the Navy also informed the BWS that there may be fuel contamination at their Aiea-Halawa Well, which is close to the BWS’s Aiea Well. In response, the BWS closed down the Aiea Well to prevent contamination. This further reduced Oahu’s water supply. 

To make up for the closure of these wells, the Honolulu Board of Water Supply has been pumping more from its other wells. The BWS said they are concerned that the wells are not refilling due to a lack of rainfall and that this might result in pumping brackish water located below the fresh water.

Residents and businesses can receive personalized WaterSmart reports that detail their water usage by signing up at the BWS’s website.

Michelle Broder Van Dyke covers the Hawaiian Islands for Spectrum News Hawaii.