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For Immediate Release
July 1, 2022

Join the Board of Water Supply this July for “Smart Irrigation Month”

HONOLULU – July is filled with BBQs, family outings, outdoor fun, and fireworks. It is also the time when outdoor water use typically increases. Join the Board of Water Supply (BWS) and celebrate Smart Irrigation Month to remind water users about the importance of using smart irrigation devices and practices.

Did you know that most consumers unintentionally over-water, wasting money every time they take out the hose or turn on the irrigation system? The Environmental Protection Agency estimates approximately 50% of irrigation water is wasted due to evaporation, runoff, overwatering, and inefficient irrigation systems.

You can be a responsible steward of our precious water resources by doing the following:

Watering and Leaks: 

  • Check irrigation systems regularly for leaks. This includes looking for broken/misdirected sprinkler heads and leaking irrigation lines.
  • Patches of green grass could indicate an underground leak.
  • Monitor your monthly water bill. An unusually high bill could mean you have a leak. 
  • Water before 9 AM and after 5 PM and check your sprinkler timers. 
  • Lawns only need to be watered a couple of times a week - this promotes deeper root growth. If you step on a patch of grass, and it springs back, it doesn’t need water.
  • Put a nozzle on your garden hose to save over 100 gallons of water in just minutes.

Planting:

  • Use appropriate native and other drought tolerant plants to create a water-smart landscape that is beautiful, water efficient, and saves you money.
  • Use mulch around trees and plants. Mulch will slow evaporation. 

Smart Irrigation Devices:

  • Weather-Based Irrigation Controller: This smart device uses local weather stations and adjusts the irrigation system’s operating times based on the plant’s watering needs rather than on a fixed schedule. This can reduce a household’s water use by 15%, saving up to 37 gallons of water every day. The BWS offers a rebate of up to $100.
     
  •  Install a Rain Barrel: This is another effective way to conserve. You’re collecting rainwater and holding it for later use, such as on lawns, gardens, or indoor plants. BWS customers can also qualify for a $40 rebate on rain barrels that are at least 45-gallons or larger.

For more information about these rebates, go to www.boardofwatersupply.com/rebates.

While smart irrigation should be valued year-round, July is a time to collectively promote the importance and benefits of using smart irrigation devices and practices. Check the BWS’s social media pages and website at www.boardofwatersupply.com/irrigation throughout July for additional tips on how you can conserve water outdoors.

Let’s all work together to make every drop count!   

For more information on Smart Irrigation Month, please go to www.boardofwatersupply.com/irrigation, contact Steven Norstrom at 808-748-5368 or email snorstrom@hbws.org. 
 

About the Board of Water Supply

The Board of Water Supply (BWS), a semi-autonomous agency of the City and County of Honolulu, manages Oahu’s municipal water resources and distribution system.  As the largest water utility in the State, the BWS serves approximately one million customers on Oahu.  The BWS embraces its mission of “Water for Life – Ka Wai Ola” – to provide a safe, dependable, and affordable water supply, now and into the future.  Uwē  ka lani, ola ka honua – “When the heavens weep, the earth lives.”  For more information, visit www.boardofwatersupply.com, follow @BWSHonolulu or like the BWS’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/BWSHonolulu.

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Contact:

Kathleen Elliott-Pahinui
Information Officer
Honolulu Board of Water Supply
Phone: (808) 748-5319

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