The Star-Advertiser’s feature on Honolulu’s 4th annual “Imagine A Day Without Water” (“Each precious drop,” Insight, Oct. 7), was a timely reminder of our responsibility to preserve and protect a life-sustaining resource that remains largely under our control.

The feature was also timely because of concern over an aquifer that sits a mere 100 feet below the military’s fuel storage facility on Red Hill. The aquifer provides clean water to more than 500,000 Oahu residents and visitors.

The fuel facility, built in the early 1940s, served us well through World War II and other military contingencies — but before Hawaii’s Constitution and today’s environmental laws.

Article XI, Section 1 of our Constitution directs the state to conserve and protect our natural resources, including water.

The military has sought ways to prevent fuel leaks, but what is lacking is action to determine if storing military fuel so close to this aquifer violates our Constitution and the federal Clean Water Act.

The state must comply with the Constitution and should complete a state-led environmental study to identify potential threats and mitigating actions, and adopt informed solutions.

Charles Ota

Aiea

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