Clean Water Branch
THE CLEAN WATER BRANCH
The Clean Water Branch (CWB) safeguards public health and Hawaiʻi’s coastal and inland waters by regulating point source pollutant discharges and managing the fecal indicator bacteria public notification program. We carry out this mission by administering the federal National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program in Hawaii and implementing the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health (BEACH) Act monitoring program.
Apoha says Aloha/E Komo Mai
When to Contact the Clean Water Branch
Please contact us for concerns involving:
- NPDES Complaints – facilities that may be violating their NPDES permit.
- Point-Source Discharges to State Surface Waters – facilities or activities discharging without a required NPDES permit.
- Wastewater Spills that Reach State Surface Waters.
- BEACH Act Program Monitoring Issues – concerns related to BEACH Act sampling sites or posted advisories.
- Integrated Report – submitting monitoring data during the call for data.
- Water Quality Standards – interpretation and implementation via NPDES permits.
What is Not Under Our Jurisdiction
The Clean Water Branch does not have jurisdiction over:
- Polluted Runoff or Nonpoint Source Pollution – human waste, litter, pesticide runoff, water discoloration, observed illegal dumping.
- Coastal erosion, seawalls, fish kills, or naturally occurring bacteria/algal blooms.
- Solid waste issues related to homelessness or other social concerns.
For these issues, please contact the appropriate federal, state, or county programs.
Click on this link to go to our Contacts page for our contact information.
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 […]
CWB BEGINS EARLY STAKEHOLDER OUTREACH FOR DRAFT AMENDMENTS TO HAR 11-55 AND HAR 11-55 APPENDICES BEFGK
Early Stakeholder Outreach on Proposed Draft Hawaii Administrative Rules Chapter 11-55 and Appendices BEFGK January 12, 2026 through February 11, 2026 The Department of Health (DOH), Clean Water Branch (CWB) is seeking early stakeholder written input specifically on the proposed draft amendments to HAR 11-55 and NPDES General Permits B, E, F, G, and K. […]
NOVO ISSUED TO WAILEHUA I, LLC
The Department of Health, Clean Water Branch has issued a Notice of Violation and Order (NOVO) to Wailehua I, LLC for violations of Hawaii’s Water Pollution laws. A copy of the NOVO is available at the link below. NOVO for Wailehua I, LLC
NOVO Issued to Michael Lee Graves and Yui Paula Hoptowit
The Department of Health, Clean Water Branch has issued a Notice of Violation and Order (NOVO) to Yui Paula Hoptowit and Michael Lee Graves for violations of Hawaii’s Water Pollution laws. A copy of the NOVO is available at the link below. Waihee Stream NOVO Docket No. 2025-CW-EO-21
NOVO ISSUED TO MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII
The Department of Health, Clean Water Branch has issued a Notice of Violation and Order (NOVO) to the United State Marine Corps Base Hawaii for National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit violations at the Kaneohe Bay Water Reclamation Facility. A copy of the NOVO is available at the link below. NOVO for MCBH Kaneohe […]
NOVO ISSUED FOR ABC TOWING & PARTS
The Department of Health, Clean Water Branch has issued a Notice of Violation and Order (NOVO) to JH Hawaii Property, LLC and ABC Towing & Parts, LLC for violations of Hawaii’s Water Pollution laws. A copy of the NOVO is available at the link below. NOVO ABC Towing
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 notice 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 CLEAN WATER BRANCH RECOMMENDATIONS FOR WATER POLLUTION CONTROL PERMIT FOR HONOULIULI WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT NPDES PERMIT NO. HI 0020877
NOTICE OF CLEAN WATER BRANCH RECOMMENDATIONS FOR WATER POLLUTION CONTROL PERMIT FOR HONOULIULI WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT NPDES PERMIT NO. HI 0020877 DOCKET NO. HI 0020877 PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD January 20, 2026 – February 19, 2026 The Hawaii Department of Health (DOH), Clean Water Branch (CWB) tentatively recommends to the Director of Health (Director) to renew a National Pollutant […]
NOTICE OF CLEAN WATER BRANCH RECOMMENDATIONS FOR WATER POLLUTION CONTROL PERMIT FOR KEAHOLE POINT FISH, LLC NPDES PERMIT NO. HI 0021825
NOTICE OF CLEAN WATER BRANCH RECOMMENDATIONS FOR WATER POLLUTION CONTROL PERMIT FOR KEAHOLE POINT FISH, LLC NPDES PERMIT NO. HI 0021825 DOCKET NO. HI 0021825 PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD January 8, 2026 – February 7, 2026 The State of Hawaii, Department of Health (DOH), Clean Water Branch (CWB) tentatively recommends to the Director of Health (Director) […]
NOTICE OF PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR THE HONOLULU COMMUNITY COLLEGE STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PLAN. NPDES FILE NO. HI22KG627
NOTICE OF PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR THE STATE OF HAWAII, UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII HONOLULU COMMUNITY COLLEGE STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PLAN HONOLULU, ISLAND OF OAHU, HAWAII NPDES FILE NO. HI22KG627 DOCKET NO. HI22KG627 PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD January 7, 2026 – February 6, 2026 The Hawaii Department of Health (DOH), Clean Water Branch (CWB) is soliciting comments on […]
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)
