DOW’s outreach and education program wins 2024 Excellence Award

Published on October 02, 2024

LIHUE – For the fourth year in a row, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognized the Department of Water, County of Kaua`i (DOW) with the WaterSense Excellence Award for Excellence in Outreach and Education, recognizing the utility’s commitment to go above and beyond to help consumers become more water efficient. EPA presented the 2024 national awards during a ceremony at the WaterSmart Innovations (WSI) Conference and Exposition held in Las Vegas, Nevada.

“More than ever, consumers and businesses are looking to conserve resources, cut costs, and reduce their carbon footprint,” said Veronica Blette, Acting Associate Director of the Water Infrastructure Division in the EPA Office of Wastewater Management. “Our WaterSense Award winners for 2024 made it easy for Americans to make water-efficient choices and find WaterSense labeled products and homes that save water, energy, and money while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”

EPA WaterSense recognized Kaua`i DOW for their water conservation campaign achievements in 2023 and were impressed with the distribution of WaterSense labeled fixtures and the offering of water education programs.  To promote EPA’s Your Better Bathroom and Shower Better campaign, DOW’s WaterSense program manager set up displays in the community and within their main lobby to offer free WaterSense labeled showerheads; giving away more than 275, encouraging installations that will save nearly 750,000 gallons of water in the County of Kaua‘i annually! DOW also organized a new month-long Your Better Yard spring campaign in 2023 featuring easy xeriscaping options for water-efficient landscaping and gave away free lavender seed packets.   Additionally, DOW coordinated eight WaterSense-specific distribution events and participated in over 20 outreach events in 2023, where they educated customers on water-saving practices, billing and water services and distributed WaterSense labeled fixtures.

“We are honored to be a 4-time winner of the excellence award and humbly accept this national recognition from EPA on behalf of the County of Kaua`i and all of our hardworking staff at the Department of Water,” said Jonell Kaohelauli’i, DOW’s information and education specialist and WaterSense program manager. “Being a WaterSense partner strengthens our local programs and offers opportunities to provide customers with resources they need to help make conservation a part of their daily life.”

DOW has been a WaterSense partner since 2007 offering an array of programs and incentives on Kaua`i.  The program continues to evolve as the DOW’s needs, budget and conditions change, however what has not changed is their commitment to promote water use efficiency and conservation.   

For more information about EPA’s WaterSense program, visit www.epa.gov/watersense.   

To learn more about DOW’s education and conservation programs, call the Department of Water at 808-245-5461 or email publicrelations@kauaiwater.org.  

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