Clean Water Branch

COVID-19

In accordance with the State’s efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19, effective March 20, 2020 the Clean Water Branch (CWB) will be reducing the amount of staff at our office, and will no longer conduct in-person meetings. In light of these conditions, the CWB asks that the public does not come to our office, and for inquiries that do not require an immediate response, please email (rather than call) the branch at [email protected] Emailed inquiries will be forwarded to the appropriate staff. If you need to immediately contact CWB staff, you can still call our office line at (808) 586‑4309 during normal business hours (Monday – Friday, 7:45 a.m. – 4:15 p.m., excluding holidays), however, please note that due to reduced staffing, not all staff will be available. As the situation regarding COVID-19 evolves, the above procedures may change.

The CWB thanks you for your cooperation and understanding during these times.

Dental Amalgam Rules

Pursuant to Code of Federal Regulations Title 40 Part 441 (40 CFR Part 441), dental offices that discharge to a publicly owned treatment works (POTW; such dental offices are dental dischargers) are required to use Amalgam Separators and to implement Best Management Practices as recommended by the American Dental Association (ADA). Effective July 14, 2017, all NEW SOURCES subject to the rule must comply immediately, and all EXISTING SOURCES subject to the rule must comply with the standards by July 14, 2020. Applicable dental dischargers are required to submit a one-time compliance form to the Department of Health, Clean Water Branch. See the Dental Amalgam Rules page for more information.

Proposed Modification to WQC0901

The Department of Health has proposed a modification to WQC0901 (effective March 2, 2018) and is soliciting comments on the proposed modification. A Notice of Proposed Modification to Blanket Section 401 Water Quality Certification (WQC) by the Hawaii State Department of Health was published in the Honolulu Star Advertiser, The Garden Island, West Hawaii Today, the Hawaii Tribune Herald News, and the Maui News on February 28, 2020.

The State Department of Health (DOH) proposes to modify the blanket Section 401 WQC that became effective on March 2, 2018. The proposed modification is available at: Proposed WQC0901 Modification.

Persons wishing to comment on the proposed modification or to request a public hearing, should submit their comments or requests in writing no later than 30 calendar days after the date of this notice, either through e-mail at: [email protected] or by mail at 2827 Waimano Home Road, Room 225, Pearl City, Hawaii 96782.

Copies of the proposed modification are available for public inspection, Monday through Friday (excluding holidays) from 7:45 a.m. until 4:15 p.m., at the DOH Clean Water Branch (CWB) office located at the 2827 Waimano Home Road, Room 225, Pearl City, HI 96782; the Hilo District Health Office located at 75 Aupuni Street, #201, Hilo, HI 96720; the Kona District Health Office located at 79-1015 Haukapila Street, Kealakekua, HI 96750; the Maui District Health Office located at the State Office Building, 54 South High Street, Room 301, Wailuku, Maui, Hawaii 96793; and the Kauai District Environmental Health Program Office, 3040 Umi Street, Lihue, Kauai, Hawaii 96766. Copies may be bought. For more information or if you have special needs due to disability that will aid you in inspecting and/or commenting on the modification, please contact Mr. Darryl Lum, Supervisor of the Engineering Section, CWB, at the above address or (808) 586‑4309 (Voice) at least seven (7) calendar days before the comment deadline. For those who use a TTY/TDD, please call through Sprint Relay Hawaii, at 1-711 or 1-877-447‑5991.

All written comments and requests received on time will be considered. If DOH determines that there is significant public interest, a public hearing may be held after at least 30 calendar days of public notice.

If DOH’s position is substantially unchanged after considering all timely written comments and all oral comments at any public hearing that may be held, then the DOH will issue the modification and this action will be final.

Please notify anyone you know who would be interested in this matter.

Any interested party who submitted comments during the public notice period or submitted testimony during the public hearing may request a contested case hearing. Requests may be mailed to the Director of Health, 1250 Punchbowl Street, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813. The requirements for requesting a contested case are found in Hawaii Administrative Rules, Chapter 11-1. A copy of these rules is available at https://health.hawaii.gov/opppd/files/2015/06/11-1.pdf. Requests must include the requester’s first and last name, mailing address, email, and phone number. The Director of Health will accept requests for a contested case hearing no later than August 9, 2019, by the close of business at 4:30 p.m.

To view the revised public hearing notice, the draft permit and rationale, the renewal application, and/or the original application please go to Public Notices and Updates.

The DOH-CWB amended HAR Chapter 11-55.  Please go to the Hawaii Administrative Rules (HAR), Chapter 11-55 page to view the latest amended rules including all Appendices.

To view the individual Appendices, including revised/renewed General Permits in Appendices C and L, please go to our NPDES General Permits page. You can view and/or download each General Permit and find information on how to apply for coverage.

• Current CWB phone numbers and employee email addresses remain unchanged.  The CWB no longer uses a fax, however, emails to [email protected] will suffice for communication if a fax was previously required.
• A guard is posted at the front gate of the Waimano Home Road facility, and, to gain access, guests may be required to show proper identification and/or inform the guard of the name and address of the agency they are visiting.

Please pardon any inconveniences due to our move. Your patience is truly appreciated! Any questions, please give us a call at (808) 586‑4309.

The Hawaii Department of Health’s Clean Water Branch is proud to announce that we have launched a new water quality alert notification system with user-friendly features to keep the community updated about our beaches throughout our islands.

To receive email alert notifications, click on “Current Water Quality Advisories” in red text at the right side of this webpage and click the “Subscribe” button at the top of the viewer page and enter your email address.

If you have any questions, please contact us at: [email protected].

The WPC Viewer offers quick and easy access to NPDES permits/WQC/documents, inspections, and enforcement actions.  All non-confidential NPDES and Section 401 WQC documents, applications, correspondence, fact sheets, rationales, final permits/certifications, completed inspections, and enforcement actions can be viewed and downloaded through the WPC Viewer website.  You can search for records by typing the permit number, facility name, or facility location in the search field; clicking on the link to the record; and pressing the Permit Information button.  Alternatively, you can zoom into the map and locate the facility you are interested in.  Note: Once you’ve found your desired facility/project, an easy way to locate documents in the WPC Viewer is to press “CTRL+F” and type a keyword.  For example, if you are looking for an issued NPDES permit, press “CTRL+F” and type “fnl”.  If you are looking for the fact sheets or rationales, press “CTRL+F” and type “fact sheet” or “rationale”.