HONOLULU — In May of last year, the Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation pledged to reduce water usage in response to the Board of Water Supply’s plea for help following impacts from the Red Hill fuel crisis. Now, DPR reports that fresh water usage at City parks decreased by 15%.

What You Need To Know

  • The successful reduction in water usage was achieved by both park goers conserving water and DPR implementing water-saving measures

  • While comparing a six-month period in 2021 to 2022, DPR reported a decrease of 15.4% in the use of fresh water

  • The lower water usage also resulted in a cost reduction of $678,693.71, reflecting a 16.5% decrease in the taxpayer-funded water bill

According to a news release, the successful reduction in water usage was achieved by both park goers conserving water and DPR implementing repairs, instituting water saving policies, and installing water-efficient fixtures. 

From July 2021 to December 2021, DPR recorded the use of 806,907 gallons of fresh water across 402 parks, spanning 4,967 acres of land on Oahu. During a similar six-month period, from July 2022 to December 2022, DPR reported the use of 682,455 gallons of fresh water for the same purposes, showing a decrease of more than 15.4%.

Besides the water conservation achievement, the lower water usage resulted in a cost reduction of $678,693.71, reflecting a 16.5% decrease in the taxpayer-funded water bill.

DPR Director Laura Thielen praised park users for helping to conserve water. “While we have been working to minimize our usage of this precious resource, and make our water features more efficient, I firmly believe the modified behavior of park users is the greatest contributor towards this exceeded goal,” said Thielen. “Now more than ever our island ohana understand and respect the importance of our wai in sustaining our communities following the existential threat posed by the Red Hill fuel crisis.” 

Along with the parkgoers using less water, DPR said other efforts included working with the BWS leak detection team to repair water leaks. DPR installed water-efficient fixtures at parks, timed beach showers at Ala Moana Regional Park and Sandy Beach Park, rain barrels at two community garden locations, and water conservation signs at high-use beach showers. DPR also reduced the duration decorative-park fountains run and irrigated during evening hours.

BWS Manager and Chief Engineer Ernie Lau thanked DPR for working to reduce water use. “We are very appreciative of DPR’s successful efforts to reduce water usage. They stand as an example of city agencies working together to improve services to our community while protecting our precious natural resources,” said Lau.

In April 2022, BWS asked residents and businesses to reduce water by 10%, because Oahu was experiencing a drought and the closure of two wells due to concerns of fuel contamination following the Red Hill fuel leaks was causing the island to have a low water supply.

Michelle Broder Van Dyke covers the Hawaiian Islands for Spectrum News Hawaii. Email her at michelle.brodervandyke@charter.com.

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