Today is Soil and Water Conservation Day in American Samoa
Governor Togiola Tulafono has proclaimed Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2008 as Soil and Water Conservation Day in the territory, and he is urging local residents to observe this day by participating in the activities organized by the American Samoa Soil and Conservation District, as well as taking steps necessary to improve and protect our soil and water resources.
According to the Governor, soil and water resources are critical for life to exist, and they are the basis of our economy, well-being, and agriculture. Togiola said soil and water resources can be damaged and lost, causing financial and health problems for the community.
Therefore, “We, the people of American Samoa, have a responsibility to protect and conserve our soil and water resources for ourselves, for native wildlife, and for future generations!” the Governor proclaimed.
In addition to Togiola, the American Samoa Power Authority is also promoting water protection and conservation during this day.
The American Samoa Soil and Water Conservation District’s first Territorial Soil and Water Conservation Day was held today at the ASCC gymnasium.
ASPA made its presence felt with an informative booth filled with colorful exhibits, photos, and information highlighting among other things: ways to conserve and protect water, the importance of interagency and public cooperation, and the programs that have been implemented to ensure that local drinking water remains clean and safe.
After reviewing the exhibits and hearing a presentation by ASPA employees stressing the importance of water conservation, ASCC student Grace Opelu said, “Our acts today will impact the future and what I learned from this, I will share with my family so that they also know about the importance of water conservation.”
Today’s event was attended by members of several government agencies, environmental groups, local residents, and high school and college students who came together to celebrate efforts aimed at protecting and conserving water for American Samoa.
A new program the ASPA Water Division promoted during the event is the cross-connection control program, which is a connection between ASPA’s potable drinking water system and non-ASPA water systems.
(Federal law requires ASPA to protect our drinking water system from contamination due to cross-connections. ASPA regularly surveys all water system connections in service to locate potential cross-connections and determine which type of backflow protection, if any, is necessary to protect both the consumer and the water system.)
ASPA works in collaboration with the ASEPA to promote the cross-connection control program and at present require proper backflow prevention assemblies on all commercial properties and some residential properties that are connected to the public water system.
“The goal of ASPA’s cross-connection control program is to protect the purity of drinking water we so proudly serve,” said ASPA’s Special Projects’ Quality Control and Compliance Officer Menorah Sopoaga, who recently returned from a cross-connection training in Washington. “With everyone’s cooperation, our island’s cross-connection control program will help keep our water free from contamination and health hazards.”
Here are some tips on how you can help contribute to water conservation efforts:
- Check faucets and toilets for leaks. Check flush tanks of toilets by placing food coloring in the tank and watch the bowl to see if it leaks through. Make sure the flush valve shuts off one inch below the over-flow drain tube. Leaky toilets are common and are among the most prevalent and worst water wasters;
- Water your lawn with ‘common sense’. Make sure that water goes where it should and isn’t on too long. Never water during the heat of the day (10 a.m.-4 p.m.). Early morning is best;
- Replace old plumbing fixtures with newer water-saving devices;
- If you see a water service line leaking or water main break, call ASPA immediately at 633-5200; and
- When washing cars, use a bucket of water instead of letting water run off through the hose.
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