HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.R. NO.

15

TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

 

Urging the county of hawaii to amend its building code to require filters and ultraviolet light systems in water catchment systems that are installed in vog-impacted areas.

 

 

 

     WHEREAS, on March 12, 2008, a new gas vent broke through the east wall of Halema‘uma‘u crater, increasing sulfur dioxide (SO2) emission rates at Kilauea's summit to a record since measurements were first taken in 1979 from 1,800 to 2,000 tons per day; and

 

     WHEREAS, in response to these increases in emissions, a House Special Committee on Vog Effects was created to examine the effects of vog on the people of Hawaii; and

 

     WHEREAS, one of the concerns raised was the copper leaching into rain from the roofs on which it falls and then entering and contaminating water in catchment systems; and

 

     WHEREAS, acid rain caused by the SO2 in vog leaches lead from lead-based paint used on roofs, and this leachate then falls into water catchment systems; and

 

     WHEREAS, while the Department of Health does not recommend drinking water from water catchment systems, many residents in vog-impacted areas have few practical alternatives and are therefore likely to disregard such a recommendation; and

 

     WHEREAS, it is imperative that controls are put in place to prevent the human consumption of water contaminated by lead and copper from water catchment systems; and

 

     WHEREAS, while the County of Hawaii requires building permits to construct all water catchment systems, regardless of depth or capacity, the Hawaii County building code does not currently impose any requirements on water catchment systems; and

 

     WHEREAS, the use of filters and ultraviolet light systems to treat water in water catchment systems can greatly improve water quality by filtering out contaminants and killing certain pathogens and therefore should be required in catchment systems used in vog-impacted areas; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fifth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2009, that the County of Hawaii is urged to amend its building code to require filters and ultraviolet light systems in water catchment systems that are installed in vog-impacted areas; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the mayor of the County of Hawaii.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

County of Hawaii; Vog-impacted Areas; Water Catchment Systems