With the recent call for businesses and residents to cut water use by 10%, the Honolulu Board of Water Supply and Department of Environmental Services encourages everyone to join the worldwide focus on the importance of groundwater with this year’s theme, “making the invisible visible.”

The event is observed annually by the United Nations on March 22, 2022, and the BWS has created a campaign to engage Oahu residents throughout the month.

Another facet to the event is raising awareness of the two billion people around the world living without access to safe drinking water or sanitation.

Oahu’s drinking water comes from groundwater sources, a point that’s been brought to the forefront of residents’ minds with the ongoing news about the Navy’s contamination of the Red Hill water system. The BWS system hasn’t been compromised. However, three nearby water sources — the Aiea Well, Halawa Well and Halawa Shaft — have been shut down out of precaution in order to protect the system.

“With a limited supply of fresh drinking water for almost a million residents, it is crucial that we all work together to implement good water conservation practices to protect this resource,” said Ernest Lau, BWS manager and chief engineer, in a news release. “It is more important now than ever to protect our groundwater resources, as safe drinking water is an integral part of life, not just today, but for the future.”

The Department of Land and Natural Resources also put out a release on March 8 indicating that Hawaii is in a state of drought with many normally healthy stream flows in each of the four counties now down to less than half of the normal million gallons per day. Streamflow stations monitored across the state “are flowing at record low rates, with some approaching the lowest flows every recorded.”

On March 10, a BWS release requested all businesses and residents to reduce water use by 10% to be able to keep Oahu’s groundwater at a sustainable level. They shared tips on seven ways to save water and avoid water waste.

Compete in the online shuffle puzzle as many times as you like. The winner will be announced on March 22. (Honolulu Board of Water Supply)

The BWS hopes to help residents understand the importance of aquifers and watersheds by engaging them in three ways:

• World Water Day Online Puzzle Contest – The online shuffle puzzle can be found on the BWS website. The goal is to complete the puzzle as quickly as possible. When completed, a pop up will show the time elapsed. Post the time in the comment section on BWS’s Instagram page. The first three with the fastest times will win a variety of prizes from the BWS, ENV and Resilience Office such as water bottles, lunch bags, utensil packs with a metal straw, tote bags and more, including a 35-gallon rain barrel for the Grand Prize winner.
• Video vignettes/Educational material: Did you know Oahu is the only island that relies solely on groundwater sources? Learn about our groundwater sources, the importance of aquifers and watersheds and more at the BWS website.
• Social media outreach: Check out BWS (@BWSHonolulu) and ENV (@CCH.ENV) social media outlets to learn more about World Water Day, the importance of groundwater and how it’s an important part of daily life.