Stormwater Management

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Hui o Ko'olaupoko strives to protect our watersheds, starting from the rain that nourishes the land, to restoring the paths where water enters our aquifer system, all the way down to how the water accesses the ocean environment. 

 Stormwater is an abnormal quantity of surface water resulting from heavy rainfall in which the water that does not infiltrate into the ground but enters into waterways and eventually the ocean. In developed areas, stormwater is transported to the ocean via the storm sewer system, which is why managing that stormwater is so crucial to a healthy watershed. 

In a natural undeveloped system, stormwater either infiltrates into the ground or is absorbed by vegetation.  However, when stormwater flows along the impervious surfaces of a developed community  (a hard, non-absorbing surface such as asphalt or concrete) it is called "stormwater runoff".  As this stormwater moves along the land, it picks up a multitude of pollutants along the way. Pollutants include oil &  grease, heavy metals, sediments, trash & debris, fertilizers, pesticides, pet waste, etc.  On O'ahu, stormwater runoff is usually routed off the land and into the nearest storm drain or stream and then dumped in the ocean.  

Download our flyer on stormwater management:

stormwater_management.pdf
File Size:	1406 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

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Hui o Ko’olaupoko is offering FREE 
rainwater assessments for properties
in Kailua, Waimanalo, Kaneohe, and Ka'a'awa.

Hui o Ko`olaupoko is conducting FREE Stormwater Assessments for Windward O'ahu properties.  HOK will visit your property and assess how you can better manage stormwater on your property and suggest "good housekeeping activities" for you to adopt in an effort to reduce your impact to local water resources.

Areas HOK will assess include:

• Landscaping
• Lawn care
• Environmentally friendly products
• Good housekeeping practices  

A rainwater assessment will show you where and how much rainwater is occurring on your property, and ultimately identify ways to help prevent flooding and pollution, and even save you money. 

​Rain is a valuable resource but if there is a lot within a short period of time, it contributes to flooding and pollution, which can be detrimental to you, your property, our streams and the ocean.

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Hui o Ko'olaupoko aims to treat our precious rain water  as a resource rather than a waste.  HOK implements projects that mimic natural systems - which capture, store and infiltrate stormwater into the ground aquifer where it belongs. These management techniques not only recharges our groundwater aquifer but also prevents polluted runoff from entering local streams, further protecting the ocean. 

Past Projects:

• Rain Gardens
• Low Impact Development
• Windward Community College
• Popoi'a Street

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Other Resources
What You Can Do To Reduce Stormwater Runoff on Your Property 
City and County of Honolulu Stormwater Management Program
Hawaii Department of Transportation Stormwater Management Program
Board of Water Supply Rain Catchment Program

2-3-2014 Lanikai rain storm from Hui o Ko'olaupoko on Vimeo.

Download our step-by-step rain garden installation manual by clicking the image below.

 

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