Column: Changing habits can save a lot of water

As inhabitants of an island, most in Hawaii cannot fathom running out of water. However, although we are surrounded by such a precious resource, only 0.4% of the world’s water is drinkable.

In Hawaii, most of our water comes from aquifers where it has traveled for years through soil and volcanic rock. This extensive, natural purifying system is the reason why Hawaii ranks first for water quality domestically. Yet with the population increasing and climate change affecting our rainfall patterns, Hawaii may see a decline of the cleanest water in the country within the next 100 years.

Conserving water is one of the easiest tasks in our environmental crisis to tackle as individuals because each of our actions directly affect the state of our water supply. We have complete control over the amount of water we use, and if we take responsibility for this natural resource, we control the future of our water supply.

Water is not an infinite resource — and with a water cycle that has sustained Hawaii for ages, it makes more sense to change our habits rather than continue harvesting a finite resource with the same practices that created the problem in the first place.

Of the 164 gallons of water used by residents every day, 100 gallons are used just for basic tasks: 20 to 50 gallons for showering, 18 to 24 gallons for flushing toilets and 26 gallons on running faucets. Through installing water-saving technology and routinely checking for leaks, the amount of water used can be reduced significantly.

Fortunately, there is an array of technology designed to combat the water crisis, from focusing on bigger efforts like creating a new source of freshwater, to simpler efforts like home installations. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, simply switching to water-saving showerheads and bathroom sink faucets with the WaterSense label can save an average family 3,400 gallons of water a year.

Even doing something as simple as turning the water off while brushing your teeth can save up to 3,000 gallons per year, enough to fill a standard bathtub 37 times. Each of these actions taken within the home adds up and contributes to reaching the state’s goal of reducing water usage to 130 gallons of water per person per day by 2030.

In comparison to individual efforts, wide-scale efforts tend to be costlier. Talks of a desalination plant began at the start of last year. Senate Bill 1440 would supply up to $100 million to build these plants completely powered on solar energy, funded by special purpose revenue bonds bought by private investors. The plant has the potential to convert saltwater into 1.58 million gallons of freshwater a day.

Hawaii could greatly benefit from such a plant as it would help achieve the overall goal of increasing the freshwater capacity to 100 million gallons per day. Yet this solution would be putting a Band-Aid on the situation.

Rather than just increase the supply of water, it is important for people to think about using water in a responsible, conscious manner. The most reliable way to ensure that our water supply lasts for generations to come is to take action within our own lives.

Although the potential catastrophe would take place 100 years into the future, the danger is real now and the prediction could happen sooner than expected. We have the time and technology today to create a different tomorrow. Being mindful and intentional with our water usage would be an affirmation of the severity of the issue, as well as an easy New Year’s resolution, to make the difference a reality.

Megan Okuma is a student at Leilehua High School, class of 2020.