Question: Is there any law that prohibits a store in Hawaii from reselling bottled water that had been returned for a refund?

Answer: We couldn’t find a law against reselling unopened bottled water that had been returned by a customer, but the state Department of Health advises against the practice.

The recommendation of the department’s Sanitation Branch “would be to not re-sell any packaged food product that a food establishment cannot vouch for with regards to the storage conditions at people’s homes. If the packaging of returned products is compromised in any way, it cannot be re-sold. Food establishments would be held responsible for the re-selling of bottled water because the exterior of the bottle (which would be placed directly in the consumer’s mouth) may have been compromised or contaminated due to unknown or possibly poor storage conditions,” Anna Koethe, a department spokeswoman, said in an email.

Disaster-prep hoarding and its aftermath have been in the news as Hurricane Lane and now Tropical Storm Olivia blow through the islands.

We’ve received many an “auwe” about shoppers who buy more than they need — leaving store shelves bare for others — and then return unused items once the storm passes. Bottled water hit a particular nerve, primarily because clean drinking water is essential (it doesn’t have to be bottled) and also because readers don’t like the idea of later buying and drinking “returned water” that may have been stored under less than sanitary conditions. As one particularly vivid caller put it, “like I want to ever buy the water my neighbor has stacked in her dining room, with her cats crawling all over it. She does this every year. Overstocks and then returns. It’s a bad habit.”

These readers urged stores to make “all sales final” on bottled water. They assumed that retailers that accept such returns put the water back on the shelf. But often that’s not the case. Many stores treat even unopened cases of bottled water as a perishable item and don’t resell it, in keeping with the Health Department’s recommendation. That’s all the more reason customers shouldn’t hoard and return, as doing so unnecessarily depletes inventory and raises the cost of doing business.

Moreover, as the Honolulu Star-Advertiser has reported, some stores are updating their policies and now refuse to accept returns of bottled water and certain other hurricane season staples. So be aware of current refund policies as you stock up, and buy only what you need.

Q: I never buy bottled water. Too expensive and I hate the plastic leftovers. I saw on the news that you can put a little bleach in your own water to keep it safe longer. But how much bleach?

A: You may add one-half cap — cap, not a cup — of unscented liquid bleach per one gallon of tap water, according to the Honolulu Board of Water Supply. Fill a clean gallon container with water nearly to the top, add the small amount of bleach, seal the container with a tight-fitting lid and store it in a cool, dark place, according to the agency.

Mahalo

Many thanks to the young couple who helped this senior navigate the Iwilei Costco with a heavy cart and not enough strength to lift the storm supplies I needed. … I asked their names but couldn’t hear over the din. I hope they know how grateful I am. — Usually independent senior

Mahalo

I want to thank Marion, called “Grandma,” for rescuing me with my groceries when I was locked out of my car. She generously drove me home to get spare keys and returned me to my car. It is heartwarming to know there are such kind strangers in Hawaii. — A sincere senior

Write to Kokua Line at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.