WRRCTR No.191 Aquifer identification and classification for the island of Hawaii: Groundwater protection strategy for Hawaii

Abstract

In response to the need to identify and describe aquifers for each island of the state of Hawaii to serve as a framework for groundwater protection strategy, a program was initiated to classify and assign codes to the principal aquifers of the state. This sixth report provides Aquifer Codes and Status Codes for the island of Hawaii. The Aquifer Codes incorporate locational and descriptive indices, whereas the Status Codes indicate the developability, utility, quality, uniqueness, and vulnerability to contamination of the groundwater resources. The codes were generated for Hawaiian conditions of groundwater occurrence and behavior in preference to using the DRASTIC approach suggested by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Each Aquifer Type within an Aquifer System is assigned an Aquifer Code consisting of an eight-digit number. An Aquifer Code is unique and non-repeatable in the State. Accompanying the Aquifer Code is a Status Code of five digits. A Status Code is specific to an Aquifer Code. The Hawaii classification includes 9 Aquifer Sectors, 24 Aquifer Systems, and 68 Aquifer Codes.