B: MANAGING STORMWATER

- Minimize impervious surfaces in site design;
- Adopt strategies to infiltrate, evaporate, and reuse rainwater;
- Utilize low impact development (LID) and green infrastructure strategies that increase detention and manage the rate of stormwater flow; and
- Install stormwater infiltration, detention, and storage.
Specific examples of LID and green infrastructure technologies include bioswales, rain gardens, rainwater harvesting for reuse, green roofs, blue roofs, living walls, and detention basins or tanks. Trees and pavement suspension technologies or structural soils can also manage rainwater in dense urban environments.
The City Storm Water BMP Guide for New and Redevelopment (2017) provides details on post-construction measures that can be integrated into building design. An appendix to the BMP Guide is currently under development that will provide more detailed specifications and guidelines for LID features, including infiltration basins and trenches, vegetated bioretention basins, permeable pavement and pavers, vegetated swales, biofilters, and buffer strips.
(Back to Climate Adaptation)
Collect, Slow, and Infiltrate Stormwater with Green Infrastructure and LID
Green Infrastructure/LID Examples
Green Roofs
Blue Roofs
Capture and filter stormwater
Source: Hans van Heeswijk Architecten. “Rooftop Garden”. Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Temporarily store rainwater in detention systems
Source: Flickr.com. “Green Infrastructure Pilot Projects in NY”. New York.
Living/Green Walls
Rain Gardens
Help to filter stormwater before it enters the storm drain
Source: Hawaiilife.com. “Living Walls are Becoming Popular in Honolulu”. Ala Moana Center.
Store and collect rainwater as well as filter overflow
Detention Tanks
Permeable Pavements
Store rainwater that can be reused for irrigation and indoor non-potable uses following plumbing codes
Source: Artspace.org. “Olas Ka‘ilima Artspace Lofts”. Honolulu.
Capture water in place while filtering it and potentially replenishing aquifers
Source: Google Maps. “Street View Kapiolani Park”. Honolulu.
RELATED DOCUMENTS
Climate Adaptation Design Principles for Urban Development – December 2020
Climate Adaptation Background Research – November 2020
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