New clean-water rules focus on building sites

New water-quality rules will affect developers, contractors, designers, businesses and homeowners planning to file grading or building permit applications, according to city officials.

The rules are aimed at protecting water from pollutants associated with land disturbance during construction.

One of the main changes is that any project that requires a building permit and which involves “ground disturbance” will require a detailed plan to prevent sediment and other pollutants from entering the storm drain system.

Ground disturbances include digging, moving or storing soil on site and breaking up concrete and asphalt. The rules go into effect Aug. 16.

These changes were mandated by the state Department of Health and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to comply with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit program established under the Clean Water Act.

The city will host a series of workshops beginning Monday on these changes. The workshops are free, but registration is required.

The city will also be offering optional training and certification courses June 29-30 for a fee.

All workshops will be held at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center’s Hawaii Suites, and developers, contractors, construction managers, project engineers, design consultants and plan reviewers are encouraged to attend.

For more information on the changes to the rules, visit honoluludpp.org/ReportsNotices.aspx or contact Jeff Onaga at 440-0207 or jeff.onaga@ch2m.com.