HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	99
TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2011
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 a gray water recycling program [within its jurisdiction.]; provided that the program complies with the standards established by the department.  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 department shall establish standards for gray water recycling programs that shall, at minimum, require:

(1) A county approval process for resident gray water systems;

(2) Overflow from a gray water system to be 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 disease 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 be sprayed;

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

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

(c)  The department shall adopt rules, pursuant to chapter 91, necessary to effectuate this section.

(d)  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:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Health; Gray Water Recycling Programs

Description:

Requires the Department of Health to establish standards for county gray water recycling programs and requires such programs to conform to the standards.

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