Does the phrase “No Dumping, Drains to Ocean” ring a bell? You might have seen the words etched on a small metal marker on the sidewalk in your neighborhood while on your daily walk, or even while running errands. These markers, called placards, are a small but mighty part of our storm drain system.
Placards are installed by the Hawaiߵi Department of Transportation on top of storm drains in areas with high pedestrian traffic to promote public awareness about storm drains and how they are directly connected to the ocean. They help educate people who may be unfamiliar with the storm drain system by conveying a short and to-the-point statement about how our actions deeply impact the marine environment surrounding our communities. Because almost all storm water in Hawaiߵi flows into the ocean untreated, the message of storm drain placards can help to reduce the pollution of our local waterways and ocean by deterring littering, dumping, and other practices that contribute to storm water pollution.
Although placards serve an important purpose, many of them have been illegally removed and stolen from atop storm drains. This not only undermines their educational importance but also places an undue burden of cost on the Hawai’i Department of Transportation to replace missing placards. Please remember that storm drain placards are State property and that removing them is considered stealing and is a punishable offense.
We can all take “No Dumping, Drains to Ocean” to heart by adopting beneficial habits such as properly disposing of trash and litter, collecting green waste, picking up your pet’s waste, composting, and participating in cleanups, such as through our Adopt-A-Highway program. In addition, if you see something, say something – any suspicious activity, like illegal dumping, can be reported to HDOT via our online complaint form or by phone at (808) 831-6714. Together, we can all do our part to reduce the pollution that reaches the ocean and mālama i ka wai!