STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3320

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.R. No. 74

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Water and Land and Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.R. No. 74 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTS THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO CONVENE A TASK FORCE TO IDENTIFY BARRIERS AND SOLUTIONS TO EXPANDED WATER REUSE IN THE STATE,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Request the Department of Health to convene a task force to identify barriers and solutions to expanded water reuse in the State; and

(2) Request the task force to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature prior to the Regular Session of 2019.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Department of Environmental Management of the County of Hawai‘i, Board of Water Supply of the City and County of Honolulu, O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, Ulupono Initiative, The Nature Conservancy, Hawai‘i Community Foundation, Ho‘omanapono Political Action Committee, and two individuals.

Your Committees find that Hawai‘i has been blessed with consistent rainfall, advantageous geology for aquifers, and high quality drinking water stores, but recent findings raise concerns about the long-term fresh water security for the State. Studies have documented troubling trends, including reduced rainfall, higher evaporation rates, and declining stream flows. Along with a projected population rise, these troubling trends generate a sense of uncertainty and urgency to guard the State's future water supply, and suggest that Hawai‘i is entering an era of fresh water uncertainty. Increasing the amount of water reuse in the State will alleviate pressure on fresh drinking water supplies. This measure builds upon the work of Wai Maoli: Hawai‘i Fresh Water Initiative, organized by the Hawai‘i Community Foundation, and emphasizes that water reuse initiatives are applicable and relevant to the entire State.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Adding language that defines water reuse;

(2) Adding language to emphasize that water reuse initiatives are applicable and relevant to the entire State;

(3) Adding the Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, a member of the Commission on Water Resource Management other than the Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, and the Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture as members of the task force;

(4) Adding the Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources and Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture as recipients; and

(5) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Water and Land and Agriculture and Environment that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 74, as amended herein, and recommend that it be referred to your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health, in the form attached hereto as S.R. No. 74, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Water and Land and Agriculture and Environment,

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair

________________________________ KARL RHOADS, Chair