STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1357

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 605

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committees on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health and Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 605, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WASTEWATER,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to mitigate the impacts of sewage and wastewater discharge into groundwater sources by prohibiting the installation or use of household aerobic units that discharge directly to groundwater unless approved by the Director of Health.

 

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health and Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

 

     Your Committees find that improved wastewater treatment is one of the most effective ways to reduce nitrogen pollution in surface water.  Existing law requires household aerobic units to meet NSF/ANSI Standard 40 certification, which does not address nitrogen reduction in the treated effluent.  Your Committees note that excess nitrogen can result in ecological imbalances that threaten aquatic environments and negative health impacts to humans and animals that consume nitrogen-contaminated water.

 

Your Committees further find that NSF/ANSI Standard 245 includes performance measures that reduce the amount of nitrogen discharged into surface waters by at least fifty percent in some watersheds.  Your Committees recognize that requiring household aerobic units to meet NSF/ANSI Standard 245 certification could help meet the growing demand for nutrient reduction in coastal areas and sensitive environments.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health and Ways and Means that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 605, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and recommend that it pass Third Reading.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health and Ways and Means,

 

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair

 

________________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair