Report Title:

Health; Gray Water

Description:

Requires the department of health to establish a gray water recycling program.

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2517
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO GRAY WATER.

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

     SECTION 1.  Section 342D-70, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "[[]§342D-70[]]  Use of gray water from [residential units] residences for irrigation purposes. (a)  The department [may authorize any county to implement] shall establish a gray water recycling program [within its jurisdiction].  The gray water recycling program shall [be limited] limit each residence to the use of two hundred fifty gallons of gray water [from residential units] per day for the purpose of irrigating lawns, [and] gardens[.], or composts.

     [The county seeking authorization shall submit to the department for its approval prior to implementation a detailed residential gray water recycling plan, including rules and procedures for the proposed program.  The plan shall address the appropriateness of the program for the geographic area, the environmental impact of the program on the geographic area, the cost of the program, and any other factors deemed relevant by the department.  The department may revoke the authorization at any time.]

(b)  The program shall regulate the use of gray water in the State, including requiring:

(1) County approval;

(2) That overflow from a gray water system is adequately directed into a sewer system or on-site wastewater treatment and disposal system;

(3) Gray water storage tanks to be adequately covered to eliminate the breeding of mosquitoes or other vectors;

(4) Gray water systems to be at least five feet above the ground water table;

(5) All gray water piping to be clearly identified as nonpotable water;

(6) All gray water from a residence to be used only on the residential property;

(7) All gray water to be used in a manner that minimizes the potential for contact with people or pets;

(8) Gray water systems to be designed to prevent ponding and managed to minimize standing water;

(9) That the hydraulic capacity of the residential property is not exceeded with the use of gray water;

(10) That gray water shall not to be sprayed;

(11) That gray water shall not to be discharged to a water course; and

(12) That gray water systems shall not to be permitted in flood zone areas.

(c)  The county may grant approval to any person complying with the requirements of subsection (b) and department rules.

(d)  The department of health may adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 to effectuate this section.

(e)  For the purposes of this section, "gray water" means any water from the domestic plumbing system of a residence except toilets; provided that the discharged gray water is not contaminated with any household hazardous waste as defined in section 342G-1 or any other contaminant the department deems inappropriate."

     SECTION 2.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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