County joins in water awareness campaign

Maui County has joined elected officials, water utilities, community leaders, educators and businesses from across the country in a nationwide day of education and advocacy about the value of water.

Led by the Value of Water Campaign, 1,000 organizations from across the country will raise awareness about not taking water for granted and the crucial need for investment in the nation’s water systems as part of the seventh annual “Imagine a Day Without Water” event on Thursday.

The Department of Water Supply joins the Imagine a Day Without Water campaign annually to draw attention to the importance of fresh water and its protection and to the vital wastewater infrastructure on Maui, according to the department.

Turning on the tap for clean, safe drinking water, and flushing the toilet with no second thought about what happens to wastewater, are actions most people take for granted every day, the department said in a news release. As the community deals with the public health crisis from

COVID-19, and with continuing drought conditions across the county, reliable water service is something people depend on to safeguard public health every day. A day without water would be a public health and economic disaster, putting the entire community at risk.

“Clean drinking water is something many of us take for granted, but if we imagine just one day without water, not being able to take a shower, flush a toilet, wash dishes, cook or clean, then, we can appreciate the value of water and wastewater service and their vital importance to the health, safety and comfort of our community,” said Director of Water Supply Jeffrey Pearson. “I urge everyone to take some time to ask yourself ‘How do you value water,’ and learn about the essential role water plays in all of our lives. Don’t waste a drop, Maui!”

For more information and links to water conservation tips, visit mauicounty.gov/126/De partment-of-Water-Supply. Or, go to imagineadaywithoutwa ter.org and follow the Value of Water Campaign on Twitter and Facebook at #ValueWater.