Risk
About Drought
What are my risks?
Mitigation
What can I do at
home?
What can I
do at work?
Local Mitigation
Activities
Preparation
Are you prepared?
Weather Advisories
Related Links -> |
What can I do at work?
Droughts
can impact an island over the long term, rather than immediately.
This provides
the opportunity for businesses to make adjustments in procedures
to conserve water. For some types of business, these steps are
critical in reducing financial losses throughout the drought.
It is
important that business owners take proactive steps to protect
their business, because they are a vital part of the community.
The Small
Business Administration (SBA) and the Institute
for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) suggest that small
business owners develop a Disaster Plan that includes mitigation
activities. These activities are divided into the following categories:
Links
for additional information are provided at the end of this
page.
Facilities
(Buildings & Equipment)
- Check water supply
system for leaks.
- Turn off any
unnecessary flows.
- Repair dripping
faucets, showers and continuously running or leaking toilets.
- Install faucet
aerators where possible.
- Reduce the load
on air conditioning units by shutting off air conditioning
when and where it is not needed.
- Reduce toilet
water by adjusting flush valves or installing dams and flapper
mechanisms.
- As appliances
or fixtures wear out, replace them with water-saving models.
- Shut off water
supply to equipment rooms not in use.
- Minimize the
water used in cooling equipment in accordance with manufacturers
recommendations. Shut off cooling units when not needed.
- Install an efficient
irrigation system.
Operations
CAFETERIA
AREA
- Turn off the
continuous flow used to clean the drain trays.
- Turn dishwasher
off when not in use. Wash full loads only.
- Use water from
steam tables to wash down cooking area.
- Do not use running
water to melt ice or frozen foods.
- Use water-conserving
ice makers.
LANDSCAPING
/ EXTERIOR AREAS
- Inventory outdoor
water use for landscaped areas.
- Water landscapes
only when needed. Two-to-three times a week is usually sufficient.
- Water in the
early morning or evening.
- Make sure that
water does not run into the streets or alleys.
- Stop hosing down
sidewalks, driveways, and parking lots.
- Use time controllers
on sprinkler systems.
- Do not water
on windy days
- Xeriscape by
planting foliage that does not require a lot of water and
by using other natural landscaping, such as decorative stones
and rocks.
- Support water
reclamation initiatives, particularly for irrigation, including
the use of reclaimed, water from municipal, industrial, agricultural
and other available sources, where practical.
- Consider using
"greywater"
- Consider water
recycling. Wastewater is cleaned for reclamation and reuse
using constructed wetlands, and a greenhouse containing soil
filters and an aquatic ecosystem.
MONITORING
- When cleaning
with water is necessary, use budgeted amounts.
- Determine the
quantity and purpose of water being used.
- Read water meter
weekly to monitor success of water conservation efforts. Harvest
rainwater for landscape use
- Assign an employee
to monitor water use and waste.
- Seek employee
suggestions on water conservation; locate suggestion boxes
in prominent areas.
- Determine other
methods of water conservation.
Critical
Information and Communication
- Increase employee
awareness of water conservation.
- Install signs
encouraging water conservation in employee and customer restrooms.
Insurance
- Purchase crop
insurance. The Federal Crop Insurance protects farmers
or ranchers from unexpected production losses from natural
causes, including drought, excessive moisture, hail, wind,
flooding, hurricanes, tornados, and lightning. It does not
cover losses resulting from neglect, poor farming practices,
theft, or low prices.
Hawaii's
USDA's Farm Service Agency provides information on farm
loans, conservation techniques, environmental practices, emergency
assistance, and domestic and international food assistance
programs. Click
here for more information or, contact them on Maui at:
(808) 244-3100 Ext. 2.
- Emergency
Conservation Program (ECP) ECP shares with
agricultural producers the cost of rehabilitating eligible
farmlands damaged by natural disaster. During severe drought,
ECP also provides emergency water assistance - both for livestock
and for existing irrigation systems for orchards and vineyards.
ECP may be made available in areas without regard to a Presidential
or Secretarial emergency disaster designation.
- Noninsured
Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) NAP is for
crops for which crop insurance is not available. It provides
assistance for farmers who grow such crops, limiting their
losses from natural disaster and helping to manage their overall
business risk.
- Emergency
Loans. The Farm Service Agency (FSA) provides low-interest
EM loan assistance to eligible farmers to help cover production
and physical losses in counties declared as disaster areas
by the President or designated by the Secretary of Agriculture.
The FSA Administrator may also authorize EM loan assistance
to cover physical losses only.
- Disaster
Assistance Programs are also offered by the Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for individuals as well
as public assistance programs that helps state and local governments.
For
more information you can visit the following websites:
|