To mark World Water Day, Hawaii advocates urge public to protect fresh water supply

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - To mark World Water Day, local environmental advocates are calling on community leaders and the public to do more to protect freshwater resources.

Ernest Lau, manager and chief engineer of the Board of Water Supply, and Melodie Aduja, co-chair of the Democratic Party’s Environmental Caucus, joined HNN’s Sunrise to talk about lessons learned from the Red Hill disaster and other cases where harmful chemicals led to severe health and environmental consequences.

The two also shared their insight after a Saturday public screening in Wahiawa of “Dark Waters,” a film about DuPont’s use of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a toxic chemical in Teflon, and its reckless discharge into the Ohio River and unprotected landfills.

“Similarly, Hawaii has faced environmental crises tied to negligence, such as the November 20, 2021, Red Hill jet fuel spill, which released 19,000 gallons of fuel, contaminating the aquifer and impacting 93,000 military servicemembers and their families,” Aduja said.

“A subsequent spill on November 29, 2022, released 1,300 gallons of AFFF, a firefighting foam containing PFOA. Cleanup removed 3,000 cubic feet of soil, but PFAS persists, threatening Oahu’s drinking water aquifer. Both cases underline the dangers of corporate and military negligence, emphasizing the urgent need for accountability, robust oversight, and environmental protections.”

Lau warns that climate change and sea level rise increase the risk of coastal erosion, flooding, and habitat loss, impacting our islands’ limited water supply.

He urges the public to conserve water by:

• Turning off the tap during water-using activities, such as brushing your teeth or washing dishes.
• Detecting and repairing leaks.
• Installing water-saving appliances
• Raise awareness about the global water crisis.

“Let’s make every drop count,” he said.

Lau and Aduja also back legislation outlawing building landfills over aquifers to prevent potential harmful consequences.