Frequently Asked Questions

Starting September 2021, the BWS has a new account portal. New features give customers control over their account information.

We are notifying existing online users that they need to reregister to use the new account portal. We also want to assure our customers that the new site is legitimate and not a scam.  

Existing customers who are interested in updating their account service holder name or advising the BWS of a new contact phone number, mailing address, change of employment, or automatic bill payment termination may contact our Customer Service call center at (808) 748-5000 or they may register to use the BWS account portal. Once registered, customers will be able to submit changes to their account information online. To register, go to https://myaccount.boardofwatersupply.com.

The new account portal provides customers with control over their BWS account.

• Update your account profile (new feature)
• Start/stop service (new feature).
• Go “green” with paperless billing.
• Communicate with BWS via secure messaging to report billing issues and concerns (new feature).

Additional features are available for single-family residential accounts only:

• Online bill payment using Visa, MasterCard, and Discover card with no card processing fee.
• Allow for guest payments on an account (new feature).

To register, you will need your account number. Find your account number on your bill or call the BWS at 748-5030 to request for it, then go to www.boardofwatersupply.com and click on “View or Pay Bills Online” or “Account” to be directed to the site.

Yes, you will need to register on the new account portal to use it for the first time. After you register:

• check to make sure your account profile is up-to-date,
• re-enroll for paperless billing, and
• update your bookmark for future use.

We do not offer this service currently. It may become available in a future upgrade.

The BWS has safeguards in place to ensure safe transactions and protection of customers’ personal information with security questions and a CAPTCHA challenge.

For questions or assistance with registering, please contact the BWS Customer Care staff during office hours 7:45 AM to 4:30 PM, Mondays through Fridays:

• Email: customerservice@hbws.org
• Phone: (808) 748-5000 and press Option 5

Through the Automatic Bill Payment (ABP) service, your participating bank, savings and loan, or credit union can pay your water (and sewer) bill by automatically deducting the amount due from your financial account.

Your financial institution automatically deducts the amount due for your water (and sewer) bill from your checking or savings account.

Mail a completed Automatic Bill Payment (ABP) Authorization Form to:

Board of Water Supply
Customer Care Division - Collection and Credit
630 South Beretania Street
Honolulu, HI 96843

Deductions will be made ten (10) days after your water bill is mailed, giving you enough time to review the bill and, if necessary, call the Board of Water Supply (BWS).

It's free.

You may stop any automatic payment by contacting your financial institution three (3) or more business days before the payment is scheduled to be made. The stop payment may be subject to a charge by your financial institution.

The returned payment will be subject to established charges for a returned check. If two (2) payments are returned during a 12-month period, your Automatic Bill Payment will be terminated.

Call the Customer Care Division of the Board of Water Supply at (808) 748-5020. Or contact us via e-mail at customerservice@hbws.org.

The Cross-Connection Control Section (CCCS) is part of the Board of Water Supply's (BWS's) Customer Care Division. It reviews constructions plans for cross-connection control (CCC), conducts field inspections of backflow prevention assembly (BFPA) installations tests the Board's own backflow prevention assemblies, conducts customer education on the importance of cross-connection control and manages the Board's Annual Backflow Prevention Assembly Testing Program.

A cross-connection is a connection between a public water system or consumer's potable (i.e., drinking) water system and any source or system containing nonpotable water or other substances.

Backflow is the flow of nonpotable water or other substances through a cross-connection and into the piping of a public water system or consumer's potable water system.

A backflow prevention assembly is a mechanical device installed in your private property after the water meter. It prevents water already in your property pipes from "backflowing" into the City water system, possibly contaminating the City's potable water system.

Yes, there are several different types of backflow preventers available:

• Air Gap (AG)
• Reduced Pressure Backflow Prevention Assembly (RP)
• Double Check Backflow Prevention Assembly (DC)
• Pressure Vacuum Breaker (PVB)
• Atmospheric Vacuum Breaker (AVB)
• Spill-Proof Pressure Vacuum Breaker (SVB)

The Board of Water Supply recognizes all of these - except the AVB - as acceptable forms of cross-connection control because they can be tested and repaired in-line.

A Certified Backflow Prevention Assembly Tester must test the device. The certified tester will test your new backflow prevention assembly to ensure that it works and will then fill out a Backflow Prevention Installation and Test form. This form should have been given to you that you when construction plans were being processed for a building permit. The Installation and Test form will be given to you from the Certified Tester. You must sign the bottom portion of the form (Assembly Owner Signature), make a copy for your records and mail, fax or email the completed form to:

Board of Water Supply
Cross-Connection Control Section
630 South Beretania Street
Honolulu, HI 96843
Fax: (808) 550-5550
Email: cccs@hbws.org

Backflow prevention controls two types of hazards: pollution and contamination of your drinking water supply. A pollutant is any substance which affects the color or odor of the water, but does not pose a health hazard. A contaminant causes illness or death when ingested.

To ensure that the device is functioning properly. With the exception of the air gap, BFPAs are mechanical units that have internal seals, springs, and moving parts that are subject to fouling, wear, or fatigue. The annual test ensures a properly functioning BFPA, and certifies that the BFPA has not been removed or had a by-pass line installed around it. Air gaps may be tested by conducting a visual inspection.

No, but that is the preferred location. The backflow prevention assembly must be installed on "private property." If the backflow prevention assembly cannot be installed immediately behind the meter, the Board of Water Supply (BWS) will allow the BFPA to be installed somewhere more convenient within the property, but the location must be approved by the CCCS. There can be no connections to the water line between the meter and the BFPA. If the water line passes through a landscaped area, the BWS requires the water line to be concrete jacketed.

No, because this allows the assembly to become submerged in the underground box or vault. It also poses safety hazards to the individual testing and maintaining the BFPA.

Failure to install the required type of BFPA could result in termination of water service as indicated in the Board of Water Supply (BWS) Rules and Regulations Section 2-213. The BWS will work with you to have the required BFPA installed.

Call the Cross-Connection Control Section at (808) 748-5470 and request that a copy be emailed, faxed or mailed to you. You will need your water bill account number or the backflow preventer ID number so the correct test form can be sent to you.

The Board of Water Supply (BWS) requires a Reduced Pressure Principle Backflow Prevention Assembly (PR) to be installed immediately behind your meter and in front of any trees or branches. The installation of the RP must be verified by one of the CCCS technicians prior to conversion to Agricultural Water Rate.

Cross-connection control requirements for irrigation systems serving single-family detached dwellings are under the jurisdiction of the City's Department of Planning and Permitting.

Yes. The CCCS will work with you and try to find the best location or solution for your particular place of business.

The Board of Water Supply (BWS) maintains a database containing all of the permitted backflow devices on Oahu. When your device is due to be tested, the BWS will notify you and provide you with a list of certified backflow prevention assembly testers. It is the customer's responsibility to schedule the test. The customer will also be provided with a backflow prevention device test form.

Effective January 1, 2017, the BWS will accept credit card payments from residential single-family accounts only.

View all the new credit card acceptance policy FAQ in PDF format.

The BWS has been absorbing the fees the bank charges for the processing of credit card transactions. Unfortunately, due to the renewed terms of the BWS’s contract with the bank, the BWS can no longer afford to include non-residential customers (customers who are not billed at the single-family residential water rate) in this payment option.

View all the new credit card acceptance policy FAQ in PDF format.

Customers who are not billed at the single-family residential water rate are affected by this change. This includes multi-family residential, agricultural, non-residential, and non-potable water customer accounts.

View all the new credit card acceptance policy FAQ in PDF format.

Yes as payments for both are handled by the Board of Water Supply. The credit card acceptance policy applies to all bills for accounts that do not pay the single-family residential rate either for water or sewers.

View all the new credit card acceptance policy FAQ in PDF format.

Customers affected by this change may still use alternative methods of payment such as cash, check, or automatic deductions from their checking or savings account.

View all the new credit card acceptance policy FAQ in PDF format.

BWS only accepts Visa or MasterCard credit card payments for single-family residential accounts.

**NOTE: Effective January 1, 2017, the Honolulu Board of Water Supply will accept credit card payments for single-family residential accounts only. Learn more.**

For more information about the change or any questions regarding your account, please call the BWS Customer Care Division at (808) 748-5030.

View all the new credit card acceptance policy FAQ in PDF format.

In recent years, there have been reports of individuals claiming to be utility employees in order to gain access to the homes of customers under the guise of a service-related visit. Here are some tips to help protect yourself against fraud.

• The BWS will not show up unannounced at your property to conduct leak detection, high meter readings, or to assess water quality.
• The BWS does not schedule appointments outside its regular business hours of 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday.
• BWS personnel will be properly credentialed and will present their City and County of Honolulu identification badge when asked. The badge will list the agency as BWS.
• BWS staff will wear official work attire bearing the the agency logo and will drive BWS vehicles when they are in the field. For photos of official BWS attire or official BWS vehicles, see our Consumer Alert page.

Reminder:

When in doubt, either call the BWS at 748-5000 to confirm the validity of an individual claiming to be a BWS employee, or call the Honolulu Police Department at 9-1-1. You may also call the BWS Communications Office at 748-5041 to file an additional report about suspicious encounters.

In recent years, there have been reports of aggressive and fraudulent telephone calls by individuals claiming to be BWS employees and demanding water bill payments be made under threat of immediate disconnection of water service. When the BWS needs to collect past due payments for water service:

• The BWS does not call customers outside its regular business hours, Monday-Friday, 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• The BWS does not call customers, demand payment, and collect payment all in the same phone call.
• If a customer is contacted regarding overdue payment, he or she will be asked to call the BWS at 748-5030 to make a credit card or debit card payment.

Reminder:

If you receive unexpected and/or aggressive phone calls from individuals demanding water bill payment, ask for the individual's name and phone number, and say you will call them back. Do not provide them with any information about your account. Then call the BWS at 748-5030 to confirm your account status.

Scammers now are trying to steal your personal information by sending out fake service disconnection notices by text and demanding payment under threat of immediate disconnection. This is a scam! Should you receive a text from someone claiming to represent the Honolulu Board of Water Supply (BWS), DON’T respond or dial any phone number provided in the text message. BWS will never send out notifications of this importance via text.

The BWS does not send out disconnection notices by text, email or phone. BWS sends a field collector to the customer’s location about 2 weeks prior to the anticipated service disconnection date and instructs customers to direct dial 748-5030 regarding any questions or concerns.

If you are ever concerned about your account status, call the BWS Customer Care division at 748-5030.

If you receive a suspicious visit, call, email or text:

• DO NOT make payment
• DO NOT share personal information
• Call BWS at (808) 748-5000 x2 to confirm your account balance
• Report the scam to BWS at (808) 748-5041 or contactus@hbws.org

The Board of Water Supply administrative headquarters and customer service lobby are located at its Public Service Building at:

Board of Water Supply
630 South Beretania Street
Honolulu, HI 96843
(get directions)

Yes, the Board of Water Supply has Language Assistance Program. For more information:

• BWS Language Access Assistance Program (02/10/15)
• Point Here If You Need An Interpreter Flyer

BWS Language Assistance Signage
Look for signs around the lobby of the Public Service Building and other public spaces at the Beretania Complex.

The Honolulu Board of Water Supply and the City and County of Honolulu are committed to transparency and openness between government and community we serve. Individuals requesting access to public records (financial statements, reports, etc.) under Chapter 92F, Hawaii Revised Statutes must complete a Request to Access Government Record form to access these records. The form is available on the State of Hawaii, Office of Information Practices website in PDF (printable) or Word (editable) format. Completed forms may be submitted electronically to contactus@hbws.org or delivered to:

Honolulu Board of Water Supply
630 South Beretania Street
Honolulu, HI 96843

Fees and Costs

Please be advised that records requests are subject to fees and costs associated with searching, reviewing, segregating, and transmitting records to the requestor. Fees and costs must be paid at the BWS cashier's desk at 630 South Beretania Street. Cash, check, Visa, or MasterCard payment is accepted. Please note the automatic public interest waiver, as well as the exemption of Revised Ordinances of Honolulu (ROH) costs. View the complete fees and costs chart, which includes Hawaii Administrative Rules (HAR), Revised Charter of City & County of Honolulu (RCH), ROH, and Office of Information Practices (OIP) references.

Fees

• Search: $2.50 per 15 minutes or fraction thereof
• Review/Segregate: $5 per 15 minutes or fraction thereof

Waiver Applied to Fees

• Mandated Waiver: First $30
• Public Interest Waiver: First $60, if City agency grants waiver based on determination that statement of reasons meets criteria

Costs (other lawful fees)

• Photocopies: $0.50 for first page and $0.25 per page thereafter
• Postage Cost: Actual Cost
• Other Handling/Transmission: Actual Cost
• Compact Disc Cost: Actual Cost
• Exemption of ROH: Costs May exempt from payment of ROH costs if City agency makes determination: government agencies (for official purposes) and organizations with reciprocal agreements with City agency; nonprofit organizations (directly concerned with matter in record), newspapers, students (studying City operation for school assignment) (limit to one copy

Prepayment of Fees and Costs

• Fees: 50%
• Costs: 100%
• Outstanding Prior Requests: 100%

For More Information

You may submit a start service request via online form. Or, you may call the Customer Service team at (808) 748-5030.

• Provide the following information:
  • Your name
  • Your new address for water service
  • The date you want to start water service (also known as the "effective date")
  • The billing address (if different from your new place of residence)
  • Contact information (home/business/cell phone numbers)
  • Employment information
  • Letter of Credit from your last utility (if available)

Also indicate whether you are the dwelling owner or renter. If you are a renter, we'll need your landlord or property manager's information.

A deposit fee may be charged.

Beginning January 2013, all residential and non-residential customers will be billed monthly.

We try to have your meter read each billing period. However, if for some reason we are unable to do so, we will estimate your consumption based on your recent average water usage.

Please call the Customer Service, Service Engineering team at (808) 748-5460.

Please call the Customer Service, Service Engineering team at (808) 748-5460.

• Review the Checklist for Residential Projects.
• Provide the following information:
  • Building permit application
  • Building file and job site plans
• If requested:
  • Water allocation letter
  • Conditions for Water Service Above the Service Limit form

Please call the Customer Service, Service Engineering team at (808) 748-5460.

• Review the Checklist for Residential Projects.
• Provide the following information:
  • Building permit application
  • Building file and job site plans

Please call the Customer Service, Service Engineering team at (808) 748-5460.

• Review and complete the Application to Segregate Water Service.

Please call the Customer Service, Service Engineering team at (808) 748-5460.

• Review Checklist for Non-Residential Projects.
• Submit an Inquiries on Water Availability form.

Please call the Customer Service, Service Engineering team at (808) 748-5460.

• Review Checklist for Non-Residential Projects.

Please call the Customer Service, Project and Plans Review team at (808) 748-5440.

• Submit an Inquiries on Water Availability form.

Please call the Customer Service, Project and Plans Review team at (808) 748-5440.

• Construction plans for the installation of the 3-inch or larger meter must be submitted for BWS review and approval.

Please call the Customer Service, Service Engineering team at (808) 748-5460.

• Review and complete the following:
  • Temporary Water Meter Approval Checklist
  • Billing Authorization
  • Signed acceptance of responsibility for safety and security of meter and appurtenances
  • Cross-connection control and backflow prevention agreement for temporary and agricultural meters

Please call the Customer Service, Service Engineering team at (808) 748-5460.

• Determine to which water district you belong.
• Complete and submit irrigation water management plan with the following information:
  • Type of crop production
  • Crop irrigation requirements
  • Type of irrigation system

Upon establishing the agricultural water service, you will receive an agricultural packet if you wish to apply for agricultural water rate.

Please call the Customer Service team at (808) 748-5030. You will need to submit the agricultural application along with a copy of your general excise license. (See Sample Request for Water Service for Agricultural Purposes.) You must be farming on a commercial basis. Upon receipt of the application, we will then field investigation. We will make a decision on your application and notify you when we complete the investigation.

There is no adjustment on the water used to refill/fill the swimming pool, however, you can make contact with Department of Environmental Service at (808) 768-3330 for any programs they may have regarding refilling/filling the swimming pool.

There is no adjustment on the water usage, it is billed as read, however, you can make contact with Department of Environmental Service at (808) 768-3330 regarding a possible new lawn adjustment.

Please call the Department of Environmental Service at (808) 768-3330. Please be advised of sewer service charge increases.

Your combined water-and-sewer bill contains charges from two separate City agencies - the Board of Water Supply (BWS) and the Department of Environmental Services (ENV). For more assistance with understanding your water bill, please review this handy guide with locations of key information and details that appear on the bill.

• English
  How to Read Your Bill
• Chinese 
  自来水和排污新账单
• Japanese 
  上下水道料金の新しい請求書
• Korean 
  새 상수도 및 하수도 고지서
• Vietnamese 
  Hóa Đơn Cấp Thoát Nước Mới
• Ilokano 
  Ti Baro a Kuentaan ti Danum ken Tubo
• Tagalog 
  Ang Bagong Singil (Bill) sa Tubig at Alkantarilya (Sewer)

BWS customers have several options to pay their bill by mail, online, by phone or in-person.

Please mail your bill payment to:

Board of Water Supply
City and County of Honolulu
P.O. Box 135037
Honolulu, HI 96801-5037

Beginning January 2013, all residential and non-residential customers will be billed monthly.

• If payment is not received and posted by the Payment Must Reach Us By on your bill, then the amount is past due and a Final Notice will be issued.
• If you received a Final Notice, the full past due amount must be received and posted by the deadline date or water may be discontinued.
• If your water is turned off for nonpayment, you will be required to pay the full amount of your bill plus a turn-on charge before water can be restored.

To check your property for leaks, please refer to the leak detection section of the BWS website.

Closing date must be current or future dates. The account service holder must complete and submit a stop service form or call us at (808) 748-5030. We will issue you a closing receipt number when you call, which serves as proof that services will be/have been terminated.

All water and sewer charges will continue to be your responsibility until you notify us to terminate service in your name.

The Power Cost Adjustment provides the Board of Water Supply (BWS) with the ability to recover any electrical cost overages above and beyond what was used to calculate the rate increases. Per the Power Cost Adjustment provision, which was approved in the 2006 rate schedule, the Board of Water Supply (BWS) may charge $0.01 per 1,000 gallons of water used for every $600,000 incremental overage. The BWS will annually review and modify the Power Cost Adjustment so that the adjustment only recovers unanticipated energy cost overages from the prior fiscal year.

From July 1, 2011 to June 30, 2012, the Power Cost Adjustment with be 0.0 cents for every 1,000 gallons of water you use.

Submit a written request indicating the Tax Map Key (TMK), proposed development, and the name of a contact person. We try to reply within two weeks.

Please send us a written request with your address or the location of the nearest fire hydrant. We will send flow and pressure data within two weeks.

If you currently have water service, we will credit your lot with the existing fixture units or water meter. If your future plans require additional fixture units or a larger meter, submit a written request indicating the Tax Map Key (TMK), proposed development and the name of a contact person. We try to reply within two weeks.

Board of Water Supply uses five basic types of residential water meters. They are usually located in the public right of way, in ground along the street-side of your property line. That may be in the grass or in the sidewalk.

Each meter uses an odometer-type register, either a traditional scrolling-number readout or one with a display like a digital calculator.

Your meter box is maintained by the BWS. Please do not go into the meter box. If you have any questions regarding your water meter, please call us at (808) 748-5000.

BWS reads its water meters by radio signal using a vehicle-mounted radio receiver or visually by a BWS meter reader.

Your Kokua Please: 

Please keep meter box areas clear of debris so that meters are accessible when servicing is needed. Mahalo!

The BWS received these questions from Carroll Cox on April 9, 2019. Our responses, as shown below, were provided to Mr. Cox on April 25, 2019. These questions and our responses were subsequently shared with another media outlet. The questions and our complete responses are provided, here, verbatim, in the interest of transparency and for the information of our customers.

Download a PDF version of Q&A Between BWS and Carroll Cox

I am writing to ask your help in providing assistance in obtaining answers to questions we have after claims made on my show by former Board of Water Supply (BWS) Meter Reader Nathan Kau.

1. Was Mr. Kau formerly employed by the BWS? if yes What are the dates?
We are able to verify that Mr. Kau worked with BWS, but any other detailed personnel information would require a signed release from the employee.

2. Did the BWS conduct test of new water meters in the Mililani area? If yes, how many meters were involved in the test?
We do not test meters based on area. We test approximately 10% of the number of meters received.

3. Did any of the meters used in the test fail? If yes how many failed?
None. All meters registers were within the tolerance specified by AWWA.

4. What other areas were tests of new meters recently conducted?
Again, we do not test based on areas. When we receive the meters, we do not know what location it be installed.

5. Did any meters fail during the other tests? If yes, what was the percentage of failures for each test area?
Please define “other tests”.

6. What percentage of the total meters being used by the BWS have failed.
What is the definition of “failed”?

7. How is billing of rate payers handled for the meters that do not work?
In general, if a meter is not working, it will register 0 consumption and we will bill at 0 consumption. If we do not get a read, which could be due to a number of causes, the bill will be estimated by the billing system – this estimate is based on an average of the previous 6-month reads. Generally, a homeowner’s water use does not vary greatly month to month; any meter showing abnormally high or low water usage will be flagged for investigation.

8. There have been reports of two cargo containers full of new, unused “ECR” devices that have not been put into service due to staffing shortages and a contract and compatibility dispute with the seller. Because this impacts the rate-payers ability to have workable and properly maintained equipment to insure accurate billing, I respectfully request all contracts related to the ECR’s be identified and an explanation as to why these have not been installed in replacement of existing broken, stuck or other malfunctioning meters.
We have cargo containers of new unused ECRs and MXUs. These materials will be furnished to a contractor to do our mass MXU change out project. This project will be going out to bid and construction is scheduled to begin later this year. We do not have a contract and compatibility dispute with the seller.

Broken and/or malfunctioning meters are replaced when they are identified, and we have a Field Operations team that handles this.

In addition, due to the long lead time in procuring parts for repair, we need to keep stock on hand.

9. I further have been informed that existing “reading equipment” is either consistently broken, not periodically re-calibrated, and/or there are too few on hand. This, in turn, generates “computer estimates” or other forms of force billing on ratepayers for extended periods of time that is not accurate.
Equipment is repaired and replaced as needed. There is sufficient quantity on hand.

10. Please identify any and all applicable rules and policies to the following areas:

1. Customer notification of stuck or broken equipment as it specifically pertains to their billing;
   
   Investigators from Customer Care or Field Operations may contact customers in the course of completing field activities or work orders.
2. Meter reader rules as it pertains to the use of or monitoring of computers and/or hand-held or mobile devices while driving roadways;
   
   The equipment is set up prior to going on the road. There should be no time the Water Data Collection Clerk is handling equipment while driving. They are trained to pull over and park (safely and legally) if they need to adjust the equipment. BWS Water Data Collection Clerks are required to follow all the rules of safe driving as put forth by the State of Hawaii. We do have driver training. Please refer to the attached procedures for setting up the equipment prior to going out and reading the meters.
3. Procedures allowed by BWS as it pertains to altering, changing or amending the types of reads (example: from no read to an AMR read) so as to bill a customer in a timely way;
   
   We would not change the read.

11. Is there a crew that maintains and cleans meter boxes so that a customer can easily monitor his water usage;
No specific field crew only cleans/maintains meter boxes. If work needs to be done in a meter box, the box will be cleaned.

12. A list of all “pilot projects” as it pertains to testing new products and software prior to purchasing said items in bulk;
This request is very broad – pls specify types of pilot projects you are interested in.

13. Any and all documents that insures the public safety from radio waves associated with AMR devices that can” alledgedly” be awakened and read from a central location miles away.
BWS relies on manufacturers to provide equipment that meets all federal regulations (if any) required for them to sell equipment that does not threaten public health and safety. BWS adheres to all manufacturer recommended installation and operation practices. For more information regarding the radio waves emitted from the equipment we use please refer to the following: https://sensus.com/rf.

As part of our regular operating procedure, the BWS conducts a rate study every 5 years to ensure that we have enough money to cover costs of our operations.

• A rate study is done for each 5-year schedule. It takes into account all of our capital improvement projects, operating and maintenance costs during this period. It analyzes what each customer class pays and then looks at what we will need for the next 5 years to meet these costs and ensure the water system keeps operating.
• Different rate scenarios are then vetted to balance affordability vs dependable and safe service. Ultimately a scenario is chosen and is vetted during public outreach and with our board.
• The rates enable the BWS to continue to provide customers with the current level of service customers expect.
• The BWS is financially self-supporting. It does not receive monies from City property taxes or fees, or from State taxes, to manage and operate Oʻahu’s water system. Monies collected from water usage pay for the BWS’s operations and capital projects.

Various factors including, but not limited to:

• The economy – total inflation increased by about 21% over the past 5 years, while BWS rates have gone up by only 12.5% during the same period.
• While overall inflation has gone down, the cost of goods we rely on for construction and maintenance have not.
• Rising energy costs. Even with the installation of a large photovoltaic system across our properties, costs have risen higher.
• Changes in water usage due to COVID-19.
  • In 2020, Waikīkī’s water demand went down when visitors stopped coming.
  • Residential water use went up as people stayed at home and worked from home.
  • Water demand shifted from non-residential use to residential.
  • Non-residential customers pay more than their cost of service, which meant a loss of revenue for the BWS during the pandemic.
• Construction costs
  • Bids are coming in over 100% more than what they were four years ago.
  • Supply chain backlogs have increased costs.
• Red Hill underground fuel storage facility leaks/spill have compelled BWS to make unplanned investments to replace 17.5 million gallons per day of potable (drinking) water. Many things are still undetermined, including whether BWS will be able to recover any of these additional costs from the U.S. Navy.

The BWS conducts quarterly reviews of its operating budget. Also, it is always exploring opportunities to increase efficiency and reduce costs in every aspect of our operations. 

The BWS is committed to cost-efficient operations.  For the past 2 years, the BWS kept its budget flat as it:

• Cut budgets by 15% across all divisions.
• Explored ways to optimize energy management and facility operations.
• Deferred less-critical capital projects.
• Deferred purchases of equipment, such as vehicles, unless they were needed.
• Financial information including budgets can be found on our website at: Department Financial Statements - Board of Water Supply, or www.boardofwatersupply.com/dfs.

No, sewer services are provided by a separate City agency, the Department of Environmental Services (ENV). The BWS is responsible for your water services only. Revenue generated by the water rates are dedicated to funding capital and operation costs for the water system only. Please contact ENV with questions by calling (808) 768-3330.

The new water rates and charges go into effect on February 1, 2024.

• When your billing period for service starts on or after February 1, 2024, your water usage will be charged at the new rate schedule.

The BWS cannot answer that. Sewer fees are set by the City Department of Environmental Services.

The water rate structure is designed to promote conservation. The less water you use, the less you're billed.

• The rate increases will most affect the highest water users, those who use 30,000 gallons of water or more a month.
• The BWS offers conservation tips and resources for residential customers at www.boardofwatersupply.com/conservation/tips.
• We have rebate programs to help our customers reduce their water use by purchasing water efficient toilets, washers and weather-based irrigation controllers. For more information, please go to: Water Sensible Program - Board of Water Supply, or www.boardofwatersupply.com/watersensible, for more information.
• Additionally, we have identified our top water users and are calling and talking to these residents and businesses.

• For our Kūpuna - we are starting a pilot project to work with service providers to reach out to seniors living independently and on a fixed income who may be unaware they may have leaks inside or outside their homes. The project includes the following:
  • Conducting basic water audits (observing and measuring water from fixtures in the home),
  • Installing water-efficient faucet aerators and low-flow showerheads to help lower water usage.
  • We plan to start this program on Oahu’s west side.
  • The BWS offers rebates for water conservation fixtures and appliances. More at www.boardofwatersupply.com/rebates.
• The BWS has an essential needs tier where all BWS customers pay below-cost-rate for their first 2,000 gallons use per month.
  • Low water users pay lower rates, and higher water users pay higher rates. This is done to encourage water conservation.
  • The Essential Needs tier will increase 2.5% per year starting February 1, 2024.
• Customers who need help paying their water bill may qualify for help from the Low-Income  Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP). 
  • Applications must be approved prior to March 31, 2024, and is subject to availability of funds.
  • Visit www.waterhelp.info or contact the Honolulu Community Action Program.

With multi-generational households, we encourage them to take advantage of tools that help them use less water and apply for our Water Sensible rebates:

• Install water-efficient toilets, shower heads, and clothes washers.
• For outdoor water use, consider installing a rain catchment system.
• Install a smart water monitor to get data about water usage and potential leaks.

Townhouses are charged the multi-family residential rate.

• They usually have one master meter that serves the entire property.
• The BWS takes the total usage in that one meter, divides it by the number of dwelling units in the property, and then applies the tiered structure to calculate the bill.

Hotels, and all other non-residential customers, pay more than their cost of service (117% over the cost of service) and subsidize single-family and agricultural customers. This is a policy decision made by our board to lessen the impact to our largest customer class (single-family) and support state and city goals of food security.

• Using our tiered water rates, bills are actually lower for over 2/3 of our single-family customers, all but our higher water users.
• In fact, it is businesses like hotels that subsidize rates for our single-family, agricultural, recycled water, and non-potable customers. Single-family customers receive the largest subsidy of any of our customer classes, about $5.5 million per year.