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Tuesday, August 5, 2014 Contact: Jill Kuramoto Telephone: (808) 748-5311 Cell Phone: (808) 551-5848 WATER EMERGENCY TIPS Oahu residents urged to prepare for Tropical Storm Iselle HONOLULU – www.boardofwatersupply.com - The Board of Water Supply (BWS) urges residents to have their emergency preparedness kits ready. The kit should include at least one gallon of water stored, per person, per day for at least five to seven days, for drinking and sanitation purposes. How to Store Water To properly store water, you should: - Use clean containers. Do not use containers that stored food with strong odors (mayonnaise, pickles, etc.) as the water will pick up the odor during storage. - Disinfect containers. Wash containers thoroughly, then rinse it in a mild bleach solution (one capful of liquid bleach to one gallon of water), and then rinse thoroughly. - Fill container with water from the tap. Fill the container to the top, keeping a minimal amount of air between the water and the cap. Store it in a cool, dark place. - Optional – boiling or bleach disinfection. If you prefer, you can boil water before storing it. You should boil the water for at least three minutes, let it cool down until it is slightly warm, fill the containers, and then seal and store immediately. Liquid bleach may also be used to disinfect water that has not been boiled. Add one drop of bleach per gallon of water and seal and store immediately. The BWS is also asking customers to stay tuned to news reports. BWS, in coordination with the City Department of Emergency Management (DEM), will issue bulletins and advisories, including when to take precautionary measures to secure an adequate water supply. If everyone uses water wisely during the pre-emergency situation, the BWS's storage tanks and reservoirs will be better able to meet the essential demands of the community. What to Do in a Storm If a storm hits Oahu, causing a power outage, the following should be implemented: Stay tuned to news reports. During an electrical power outage keep water use to an absolute minimum. If electrical service has been disrupted, the outage will also affect BWS's pumps and equipment. Immediately begin water conservation measures. Use water sparingly. Water should be used for essentials: cooking, drinking and sanitation. Do not wash cars or water lawns. Turn off or disconnect any devices or fixtures that regularly draw water. Such devices include automatic icemakers and irrigation systems. Keep toilet flushing to a minimum. More emergency preparedness information is available at www.boardofwatersupply.com. The BWS is actively monitoring Tropical Storm Iselle and is coordinating our emergency response plan with the DEM. ###