|
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.C.R. NO. |
136 |
|
TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2017 |
|
|
|
STATE OF HAWAII |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
||
HOUSE CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION
REQUESTING THE department of health TO ESTABLISH A TASK FORCE TO INVESTIGATE AND ADDRESS THE DISPOSAL OF WASTEWATER INTO GROUNDWATER RESOURCES.
WHEREAS, in Hawaii, wastewater that is not re-used is either discharged to surface water or to groundwater; and
WHEREAS, wastewater discharged to groundwater is not required to be treated to levels that comply with state water-quality standards designed to keep water safe for fishing and swimming; and
WHEREAS, regulations for wastewater discharge to groundwater do not require consideration of the potential that the discharge may pollute surface water; and
WHEREAS, recent studies have shown that wastewater discharged into the ground can and does subsequently affect surface water and thus, these discharges should be managed accordingly; and
WHEREAS, waste systems and injection well phase upgrades could be examined in areas where injection wells may be currently affecting surface water; and
WHEREAS, current regulation of wastewater discharges from groundwater to surface water may lack technical criteria and the high level of rigor necessary to prevent significant pollution of surface water; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-ninth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2017, the Senate concurring, that the Department of Health is requested to establish a task force to investigate and address the disposal of wastewater into groundwater resources, including the following:
(1) Identify regulatory gaps, mandates, and appropriations regarding the development of standards for wastewater discharged into groundwater;
(2) Identify statutory revisions specifically addressing wastewater discharges to groundwater where there is the potential to affect surface water; and
(3) Recommend appropriations for staffing to meet the workload demands imposed by any suggested new statutes, mandates, or regulations; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Health is requested to submit the task force's findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than 20 days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2018; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor and Director of Health.
|
|
OFFERED BY: |
_____________________________ |
|
|
|
|
Requests the Department of Health to establish a task force to investigate and address effects from the discharge of wastewater into groundwater.