Central Maui businesses evaluated to prevent stormwater, coastal pollution

A state agency is conducting site evaluations of business facilities in Central Maui to protect the island’s stormwater and coastal environmental from pollution.

The state Department of Transportation’s Highways Division-Maui District oversees a storm sewer system that carries rainwater from the Central Maui region directly to streams and the ocean, according to a news release Wednesday. The drainage system helps to reduce problems associated with heavy rainfall, such as flooding. However, any pollutants that enter the storm drains — including trash, plant debris, soaps, grease and chemicals — can also be carried through the drainage network and out to Maui bodies of water, where it can cause environmental damage.

The evaluations are being conducted at Central Maui facilities for operations that are located adjacent to a state highway or have a drainage connection to the state’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System on Maui. The program may be extended to other areas of Maui in the future. There is no charge for the evaluation.

“It’s like that old adage, ‘an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure’,” said Ty Fukuroku, program manager of Environmental Management for the Highways Division-Maui District. “The purpose of these on-site evaluations is to help identify conditions that could be problematic down the road, so businesses can take proactive steps to stop pollutants from escaping their facility and getting into the environment.”

Compliance with federal regulations governing pollutant discharge into storm drainage systems is required by the Environmental Protection Agency and the state Department of Health Clean Water Branch. Fukuroku noted that the Highways DivisionMaui District’s goal is to work cooperatively with local businesses to adopt good management practices that could potentially prevent a contamination incident or other problem in the future.

“Oftentimes, good practices are pretty straightforward, for example: keeping your dumpster lids closed, sweeping and disposing of trash and debris around your facility, cleaning up leaks or spills and adjusting car-washing activities to prevent runoff to storm drains,” Fukuroku said.

For more tips, visit stormwatermaui.com.

To schedule an evaluation, contact Fukuroku at (808) 873-3535 or ty.h.fukuroku@ hawaii.gov.