LIHU‘E — The Department of Water announced on Thursday that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency honored the County of Kaua‘i Department of Water with its third WaterSense Excellence Award.
The award was presented to DOW representatives during the American Water Works Association WaterSmart Innovations Conference held on Oct. 5 in Las Vegas. The award recognizes the DOW for its efforts to promote WaterSense and water efficiency as part of its conservation program efforts in 2022.
“This accomplishment is shaped by our employees’ commitment to excellence in all phases of water service, and is an even greater honor to compete at the national level as a three-time recipient of this award,” DOW Manager and Chief Engineer Joe Tait said.
“These successful programs would not be possible without the foundational support of the Kaua‘i Board of Water Supply and our team of dedicated Department of Water employees, who develop and inspire conservation and educational outreach program efforts each year.”
WaterSense, a voluntary partnership program sponsored by EPA, is both a label for water-efficient products, programs and homes, and a resource for helping consumers learn ways to save water. More than 2,100 manufacturers, builders, retailers, utilities, government and nonprofit organizations nationwide partner with WaterSense to promote water-efficient products, homes and programs.
“With extreme weather affecting water supplies and quality, saving this precious resource is more important than ever,” said Veronica Blette, Chief, WaterSense Branch. “The 2023 award winners helped Americans look to WaterSense and save not just water, but the energy required to heat and treat it, as well as reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with energy use.”
The EPA WaterSense recognized the DOW for its creative approach to the Fix A Leak campaign in 2022, when the DOW partnered with locally-owned Tanaka Hardware Store to host an in-store countertop display offering free toilet leak detection tablets. Additionally, the DOW hosted a branded campaign display at its main offices in Pua Loke.
The DOW increased its advertisements of the Fix A Leak Week campaign that led to the participation of the island’s Hawai‘i Public Housing Authority (HPHA) properties. Through the HPHA, leak detection tablets and conservation information were provided to residents who utilize water services, but do not directly receive water billing.
These efforts contributed to the more than 1,100 toilet leak detection tablets and 352 leak detection starter kits being distributed during Fix A Leak Week, surpassing the campaign distribution goal by 45 percent.
Additionally, the DOW hosted its 17th Make a Splash Festival, conducting the state of Hawai‘i’s largest and only water education festival to teach water-related activities to more than 750 school students.
The DOW, in 2022, partnered with Ferguson Facilities Supply, Inc. to receive an in-kind donation of a WaterSense-labeled toilet that was used as a display in the main lobby of DOW offices as part of a WaterSense-labeled model promotional exhibit.
For more information about DOW’s conservation and educational outreach programs, call the Department of Water at 808-245-5455 or email publicrelations@kauaiwater.org.
For information about EPA’s WaterSense program, visit its website at www.epa.gov/watersense.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 808-245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
