REPORT TITLE:
Wastewater Reuse


DESCRIPTION:
Directs the director of DOH to give priority to adopting rules to
establish the definition and requirements of different categories
of recycled water and reclaimed water as well as recognize
different levels of water treatment and purpose.  Defines
"recycled water" and "reclaimed water" as treated wastewater that
by design is intended or used for a beneficial purpose.  (HB1548
CD1)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                        1548
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES                H.B. NO.           H.D. 1
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 1999                                S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII                                            C.D. 1
                                                             
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                   A  BILL  FOR  AN  ACT

RELATING TO WASTEWATER REUSE.



BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 1      SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that many areas of Hawaii
 
 2 are blessed with an abundance of freshwater.  With increasing
 
 3 demands on Hawaii's natural resources, however, the future
 
 4 sustainability of freshwater is of great concern.  These
 
 5 increasing demands may soon outpace the available freshwater
 
 6 supply.
 
 7      In other states where freshwater is in short supply, much
 
 8 attention is given to the reuse of wastewater through water
 
 9 recycling.  The legislature finds that Hawaii should follow a
 
10 similar path and encourage the use of recycled water, especially
 
11 for agricultural and irrigation uses.  Hawaii must proactively
 
12 develop policies that encourage and support the reuse of treated
 
13 wastewater effluent for beneficial purposes.  State laws and
 
14 rules need to be developed, amended, and clarified to encourage
 
15 the reuse of water.  Regulation and mitigation of possible health
 
16 and environmental risks of recycling processed wastewater must be
 
17 addressed.  State laws and rules must also authorize the
 
18 distribution and sale of recycled water and ensure that the cost
 
19 of recycled water is reasonable, fair, and economically feasible
 
20 for both the processor and water consumer.  
 

 
Page 2                                                     1548
                                     H.B. NO.           H.D. 1
                                                        S.D. 1
                                                        C.D. 1

 
 1      SECTION 2.  Section 342D-1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
 
 2 amended by adding a new definition to be appropriately inserted
 
 3 and to read as follows:
 
 4      ""Recycled water" and "reclaimed water" mean treated
 
 5 wastewater that by design is intended or used for a beneficial
 
 6 purpose."
 
 7      SECTION 3.  The director of health shall give priority to
 
 8 adopting rules, in accordance with chapter 91, Hawaii Revised
 
 9 Statutes, to:
 
10      (1)  Establish the definition and requirements of different
 
11           categories of recycled water and reclaimed water; and
 
12      (2)  Recognize different levels of water treatment and
 
13           purpose.
 
14      SECTION 4.  New statutory material is underscored.
 
15      SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.