STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1005

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 1999

                                   RE:  H.B. No. 1548
                                        H.D. 1
                                        S.D. 1




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Labor and Environment, to which was
referred H.B. No. 1548, H.D. 1, entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WASTEWATER REUSE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to direct the Department of
Health to adopt rules that encourage the reuse of water.

     This measure also defines "recycled water" and "reclaimed
water" in chapter 342, Hawaii Revised Statutes, relating to water
pollution.

     Testimony in support of this measure was received from the
Department of Health (DOH), and the Department of Environmental
Services and Board of Water Supply of the City and County of
Honolulu.  Testimony in support of the measure with amendments
was received from the Land Use Research Foundation and the Coral
Creek Golf Course.

     Your Committee finds that the promotion of the use of
recycled water will assist the State in conserving its limited
water resources.  Your Committee also finds, however, that it is
unclear if the rules to be adopted by DOH will mandate the use of
recycled water even when not economically feasible.


 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1005
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     Your Committee also finds that defining reclaimed and
recycled water as being treated at a treatment works is too
limiting.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Clarifying that DOH give priority to adopt rules
          encouraging the voluntary reuse of water where
          economically feasible; and 

     (2)  Changing the definition of reclaimed and recycled water
          to mean treated wastewater that by design is intended
          or used for a beneficial purpose.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Labor and Environment that is attached to this
report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose
of H.B. No. 1548, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that
it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B.
No. 1548, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third
Reading.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Labor and
                                   Environment,



                                   ______________________________
                                   BOB NAKATA, Chair

 
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