Clean Water Branch
The Clean Water Branch
The Clean Water Branch (CWB) protects the public health of residents and tourists who enjoy playing in and around Hawaii’s coastal and inland water resources. The CWB also protects and restores inland and coastal waters for marine life and wildlife. These goals are accomplished through statewide coastal water surveillance and watershed-based environmental management through a combination of permit issuance, monitoring, enforcement, polluted runoff control projects, and public education.
Recent Announcements
See below for a list of pinned announcements and the 5 most recent announcements from the Clean Water Branch. Announcements include updates on rulemaking, uploads of informational documents, and other informational announcements. To see all announcements, go to the Announcements Page.
(PINNED) The Clean Water Branch Water Quality Data Page is Temporarily Unavailable
Aloha! The water quality data page is temporarily unavailable. We are in the process of upgrading our websites to better serve Hawai’i. Please visit this page for any areas currently under an advisory: https://eha-cloud.doh.hawaii.gov/cwb/#!/landing. This will include any beaches sampled that require an advisory due to elevated fecal indicator bacteria counts. Questions? Please feel free to contact […]
(PINNED) Hawaii Functional Equivalent Discharge Strategy – Workshops
The Hawaii Department of Health (HDOH) is moderating a series of stakeholder workshops as part of its efforts to develop a strategy to address functional equivalent discharges in the State. This strategy is intended to implement the 2020 U.S. Supreme Court decision in the case County of Maui v. Hawaii Wildlife Fund, which requires a […]
(PINNED) CWB Announces New Requirement for Electronic Signature Approval for All Submissions Beginning January 31, 2023
The Department of Health (DOH), Environmental Health Administration (EHA) e-Permitting Portal received Cross-Media Electronic Reporting Rule (CROMERR) certification by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for electronic signature. Currently, Applicants and Permittees may now certify and submit EHA Electronic Signature Forms electronically through the EHA e-Permitting Portal without the need to physically send in an ink signature […]
DEADLINE TO SUBMIT RENEWAL NOI OR NOC FOR PERMIT COVERAGE UNDER HAR 11-55 APPENDIX C, J, OR L
On January 29, 2024, the Department of Health, Clean Water Branch (CWB) re-adopted the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) general permits contained in the following three (3) Appendices of Hawaii Administrative Rules, Title 11, Chapter 55 (HAR 11-55): Appendix C – Discharges of Storm Water Associated with Construction Activity Appendix J – Unintentional Discharges […]
CWB Completes Re-Adoption of HAR 11-55 Appendices C, J, and L Effective January 29, 2024
The Department of Health, Clean Water Branch (CWB) has completed the rulemaking process for revisions to Hawaii Administrative Rules, Title 11, Chapter 55 (HAR 11-55) and has re-adopted the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) general permits contained in HAR 11-55 Appendices C, J, and L. The three (3) re-adopted general permits have five-year terms […]
CWB Creates NPDES Severe Weather Preparedness FAQs
The Department of Health (DOH), Clean Water Branch (CWB) has created new FAQs with recommendations for steps Permittees with construction sites and industrial facilities can take to prepare for severe weather events. With tropical storm Calvin projected to impact the State in the upcoming days, Permittees should prepare their sites and facilities for any potential […]
CWB Releases a Fact Sheet for an Ongoing Water Quality Restoration Project for Kalihi Stream, Keehi Lagoon, and Moanalua Stream
The Department of Health, Clean Water Branch (CWB) has released a fact sheet outlining an ongoing Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) project—a tool in water quality restoration—for Kalihi Stream, Keehi Lagoon, and Moanalua Stream. Information provided includes affected waterbodies, impaired parameters addressed by the TMDL, and an overview of the TMDL process. The fact sheet can […]
Active Public Notices and Upcoming Public Hearings
See below for a list of active public notices and scheduled upcoming public hearings.
Active public notices are those public notices that are still in their public comment period (i.e., the CWB is still accepting public comments on the public noticed documents). Upcoming public hearings are those public hearings that have been scheduled but have not yet been held.
Click on the applicable post for more information related to that public notice or public hearing, including instructions on how to participate in the public participation process.
Supporting documents for active public notices can be accessed here.
If there are no posts other than the informational post listed here, then there are no active public notices or upcoming scheduled public hearings.
NOTICE OF PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR THE STATE OF HAWAII, UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII LEEWARD COMMUNITY COLLEGE, STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PLAN, HONOLULU, ISLAND OF OAHU, HAWAII, NPDES FILE NO. HI22KG711
DOCKET NO. HI22KG711 May 30, 2024 The Hawaii Department of Health (DOH), Clean Water Branch (CWB) is soliciting comments on the University of Hawaii (UH) Leeward Community College (Leeward CC), Stormwater Management Plan (SWMP). The Director of Health has selected the Two-Step General Permit approach to regulate Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (Small MS4s) […]
Active Public Notices and Upcoming Public Hearings Information
The Department of Health, Clean Water Branch (CWB) will post information regarding active public notices and upcoming scheduled public hearings on our website on the Active Public Notices and Upcoming Public Hearings Page as well as an updated list on our Home page. Active public notices are those public notices that are still in their […]
Clean Water Branch
References and Public Records
Section 401 Water Quality Certification (WQC)
Hawaii Administrative Rules (HAR)
Polluted Runoff Control Program
