HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1394
TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2015		H.D. 2
STATE OF HAWAII		S.D. 2
		C.D. 1

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO WATER RECLAMATION.

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

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that as an island state, Hawaii has limited access to natural fresh water supplies.  Amid increasing population and development, sustainable access to fresh water is key to the State's future and new and innovative options for water conservation must be explored.

     The process of water scalping involves the extraction of valuable, usable water from a sewerage network.  By treating this extracted water to achieve varying degrees of water safety and quality, otherwise unused and wasted water may be reclaimed and put to beneficial uses, such as outdoor irrigation of golf courses, parks, and landscaped areas, and various other potable, non-potable, and indirect-potable uses.  This decentralized method of water treatment and conservation has already been successfully implemented in several Australian cities and is being explored as an option in several areas of the United States, including California, Arizona, and Washington.

     The purpose of this Act is to explore the sustainability and conservation potential of water scalping in Hawaii by conducting a feasibility study on the use of water scalping technology in state airport facilities and, if funds are available, developing a process design for the processing portion of the implementation of water scalping technology.

     SECTION 2.  (a)  The airports division of the department of transportation shall conduct a feasibility study on the use of water scalping technology in state airport facilities and, if funds are available, may develop a process design for the processing portion of the implementation of water scalping technology.

     (b)  The feasibility study shall include an analysis of the following:

     (1)  Potential benefit to the State from the development of water scalping technology;

     (2)  Compatibility of water scalping technology with existing state airport facility infrastructure;

     (3)  Cost projections to:

         (A)  Upgrade existing airport facilities to incorporate water scalping technology; and

         (B)  Incorporate water scalping technology in any new construction plans for state airport facilities; and

     (4)  Potential incentives for private industry to utilize water scalping technology in a way that benefits the State.

     (c)  The airports division of the department of transportation shall submit to the legislature, no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2016, a report on its findings and recommendations.  The report shall include recommendations on:

     (1)  Specific airport facilities or areas where water scalping technology should be deployed;

     (2)  The net benefit, given cost considerations, of mandating the use of water scalping technology in state airport facilities;

     (3)  Cost estimates and practicability for the deployment of water scalping throughout the State, including public acceptance of the technology; and

     (4)  If practicable, process design for the processing portion of the implementation of water scalping technology.

     SECTION 3.  The airports division of the department of transportation shall apply for a Federal Aviation Administration grant to fund the implementation of a water scalping technology pilot project. 

     SECTION 4.  Of the amount appropriated out of the airport special fund for airports administration (TRN195), as provided for in the General Appropriations Act of 2015 (House Bill No. 500, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, C.D. 1) for expenditure, there is appropriated the sum of $8,600,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2015-2016 for the airports division of the department of transportation to conduct a feasibility study on the use of water scalping technology in state airport facilities and, if funds are available, develop a process design for the processing portion of the implementation of water scalping technology; provided that:

     (1)  If Federal Aviation Administration funds are available, the department of transportation may expend these federal funds for this purpose; and

     (2)  If Federal Aviation Administration funds are not available for the purpose of this feasibility study, the department of transportation may expend up to the amount of airport special fund moneys appropriated in this section for this purpose.

     The sum appropriated may be expended by the department of transportation for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2015

Report Title:

Water Scalping; Feasibility Study; Airports; Transportation

Description:

Requires DOT airports division to conduct a water scalping feasibility study and, if funds are available, authorizes development of a process design for the processing portion of the implementation of water scalping technology.  Requires DOT airports division to apply for a federal grant to fund the implementation of a water scalping pilot project.  Makes an appropriation.  Effective 7/1/2015.  (CD1)

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