The Honolulu Board of Water Supply (BWS) sets island-wide conservation targets and can declare mandatory restrictions on lawn irrigation under ROH chapter 17 during droughts.
BWS, the semi-autonomous water utility for the City and County of Honolulu, asks customers to irrigate lawns only between 7 p.m. and 9 a.m. to reduce evaporation. Under ROH Chapter 17 Article 1, the BWS Manager and Chief Engineer can issue stage-based mandatory restrictions when aquifer levels drop, as last activated during the 2023 Central Oahu drought. Stage 1 limits irrigation days, Stage 2 prohibits ornamental fountains and turf watering, and Stage 3 caps total household use. Notices reach customers by bill insert, news release, and the BWS website.
Violating mandatory drought-stage rules can trigger written warnings, surcharges on the water bill, and at higher stages, temporary service shutoff.
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