HONOLULU — A new Property Maintenance Toolkit for Storm Water Compliance developed by the City and County of Honolulu’s Department of Facility Maintenance, Storm Water Quality Division is aimed at property managers to protect and improve Hawaii’s water quality.

The toolkit provides best management practices to help property managers avoid unauthorized discharges to the city’s storm water system and any resulting penalty fines.

With the Red Hill situation still in the news, the need for clean, safe water and community help to keep it that way is top of mind for all residents.

The toolkit’s best practices cover a variety of activities, including landscape maintenance, dumpster and trash maintenance, painting, pool, spa and water feature maintenance and more. If not done properly, activities such as pressure washing driveways can cause contaminants to enter storm drains that lead to the ocean. Visit the city’s Property Maintenance Toolkit site to download and print the toolkit.

Groups and organizations can request an in-person presentation by the SWQ Division by emailing cleanwater@honolulu.gov. Email to request hard copies of the toolkit as well.

Visit the SWQ Division website for information on how individuals or groups can sign up to clean a channel or city block, mark storm drains to promote awareness of where trash ends up and become a citizen scientist by helping to track surface trash via a “trash app.”

Sarah Yamanaka covers events, environmental and community news for Spectrum News Hawaii.