Feds, state looking into recapturing runoff
The U.S. Department of Interior and the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources have started an appraisal to study the possibilities of capturing and reusing Hawaii storm water runoff.
The investigation will be conducted by Interior's Bureau of Reclamation and DLNR's Commission on Water Resource Management, the state said Wednesday. Storm water reclamation and reuse technology has been used on the Mainland and in other countries to augment water supplies.
"Using reclaimed storm water to supply nonpotable needs can help reduce the demands on our state's potable water resources," said DLNR Chairman Peter Young. "Innovative ways to supplement existing water sources should be explored and pursued." He said this could also improve near-shore water quality and protect the coral reefs.
The study is expected to make a test case of the Ewa Plain.
The Bureau of Reclamation is providing $400,000 in funding towards this effort, which will begin in the fall. The project contract has been awarded to the engineering firm Brown and Caldwell Consultants, which has an office in Hawaii.
