Transit Oriented Development

B: MANAGING STORMWATER

circle image 2 pond

Climate change is expected to increase the frequency and intensity of storms in Hawaii, making stormwater management a key concern for resilient site design.
In addition to complying with existing rules, the following are recommended strategies for 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


Conventional Design

conventional design

LID Site Design

LID site design


Green Infrastructure/LID Examples

  • Green Roofs

  • Blue Roofs


green roofs med

Capture and filter stormwater

Source: Hans van Heeswijk Architecten. “Rooftop Garden”. Amsterdam, Netherlands.

stormwater 5 blue roofs

Temporarily store rainwater in detention systems

Source: Flickr.com. “Green Infrastructure Pilot Projects in NY”. New York.

  • Living/Green Walls

  • Rain Gardens

stormwater 3 living green walls

Help to filter stormwater before it enters the storm drain

Source: Hawaiilife.com. “Living Walls are Becoming Popular in Honolulu”. Ala Moana Center.

rain gardens

Store and collect rainwater as well as filter overflow

Source: Behance.net. “Rain Garden Display Panel”. Kailua.

  • Detention Tanks

  • Permeable Pavements

stormwater 3 detention tanks

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.

stormwater 6 permeable pavements

Capture water in place while filtering it and potentially replenishing aquifers

Source: Google Maps. “Street View Kapiolani Park”. Honolulu.

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