MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII, KANEOHE BAY, Hawaii -- Marine Corps Base Hawaii is always striving to protect the environment and community surrounding us, and always trying to conserve what precious resources we have. So, it was no surprise when the Honolulu Board of Water Supply congratulated MCB Hawaii on a 14 percent reduction in water use on the base.
The reduction of water use could not have come at a better time. According to the Board of Water Supply, rainfall is down and water use is up for the island of Oahu, so the Board has asked the public to practice good water conservation procedures.
The MCB Hawaii water conservation program consists of a number of initiatives. A continuing awareness program reaches out to residents and workers on base, the policy limits the hours for irrigation and an effluent irrigation program.
At the Kaneohe Klipper Golf Course aboard Kaneohe Bay, the irrigation system uses treated effluent water from the base's wastewater treatment plant. The wastewater is run through the treatment plant, and then is further treated with chlorine and sent to the course.
"The golf course effluent irrigation is a big part of our water conservation, but it is not the only factor," said Lee Yamamoto, deputy director for the Facilities Department aboard MCB Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay.
A conservation method, which has been recently implemented aboard the base, is low-flow showerheads, toilets and other plumbing fixtures in all new housing units and bachelor enlisted quarters. Many of the older housing units and BEQs that were built years ago are now being replaced with new facilities.
Nearly 500 housing units and more than 800 BEQ rooms have all been equipped with these low-flow plumbing fixtures, and several other BEQ and family housing projects will have the low-flow fixtures. Those BEQs that are not included in the replacement program were previously retrofitted with the low-flow plumbing features.
To also help with water conservation aboard base, Utility Services Associates was contracted to perform leak detection surveys on the water distribution mains. Using sensitive sound amplification instruments and computer technologies, six significant leaks were identified and immediately repaired.
Although all these procedures were taken to reduce MCB Hawaii's water supply, residents and workers are encouraged to do their part in the effort.
Residents should report any leaks to the Facilities Department, and instead of cleaning the pavements and driveways with a hose, residents should use a broom. When washing vehicles, residents should use a bucket of soap and water and have an automatic nozzle that turns off the water instead of letting it run continuously.
More water conservation tips can be found in Base Order 11300.13.
"For the most part, residents are doing a good job conserving water," said Yamamoto.
"We are headed in the right direction, but we need to continue what we are doing and keep trying to improve our conservation efforts."