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

     SECTION 2.  (a)  The department of transportation shall conduct a feasibility study on the use of water scalping technology in state facilities.  In conducting this feasibility study, the department of transportation shall coordinate with the department of health and agencies from each county with jurisdiction over wastewater management.

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

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

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

     (3)  Cost projections to:

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

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

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

     (c)  The department of transportation shall submit to the legislature, no later than November 30, 2016, a report on its findings and recommendations.  This report shall include recommendations on:

     (1)  Specific 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 facilities; and

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

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2015.

Report Title:

Water Scalping; Feasibility Study

Description:

Requires DOT to conduct a water scalping feasibility study.  (SD1)

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