HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	444
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO ONSITE-NON-POTABLE WATER REUSE SYSTEMS.

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that as an island state, Hawai‘i has limited access to natural fresh water and unlike in other states, it is not economically feasible to ship in additional supplies when needed. Competition for fresh water from increasing population, development pressures, and the impact of climate change require that Hawai‘i develop strategies for increasing water conservation, recharge, and reuse in order to ensure fresh water supplies for current and future generations. The Hawai‘i fresh water initiative was developed as a statewide goal to increase water security by one hundred million gallons a day by 2030. This will require more than doubling the amount of wastewater currently reused in the islands to provide an additional thirty million gallons a day in water availability.

The legislature further finds that the use of recycled water for non-potable applications has proven safe and feasible under existing regulatory regimes in Hawai‘i and many other states, as well as in other industrialized countries of the world. Onsite water reuse in high-rise and mid-rise developments in particular has proven feasible and safe in New York, California, Japan, Australia, and other locations. The use of recycled water generated onsite at high-rise and mid-rise developments can replace a large percentage of the future potable water demand of such developments.

In order to increase onsite water reuse at the development level, the legislature finds that guidance from the National Blue Ribbon Commission for Onsite Non-potable Water Systems would be invaluable. The National Blue Ribbon Commission advances best management practices to support the use of onsite non-potable water systems within individual buildings or at the local scale through a commitment to protect public health and the environment. To support the adoption of onsite non-potable systems, the commission has developed tools and resources based on world class research and best practices underway in local communities.

To help reach the 2030 goal for water reuse, the department of health organized a water reuse task force based on House Concurrent Resolution 86, S.D. 1 (2018), with the purpose of identifying policies to help scale water reuse in the Hawaiian islands. Task force participants included representatives from the department of health, board of land and natural resources, commission on water resources management, board of agriculture, Honolulu board of water supply, Hawaii freshwater initiative, Hawaii Community Foundation, county representatives, and members of the house of representatives and the senate. The legislature notes that this Act was informed and guided by the water reuse task force with the goal of safely, effectively, and economically scaling water reuse throughout Hawai‘i.

The purpose of this Act is to require the department of health to adopt rules by January 1, 2021, for onsite non-potable water reuse systems.

SECTION 2. By January 1, 2021, the department of health shall adopt rules for onsite non-potable water reuse systems, based on the National Blue Ribbon Commission for Onsite Non-potable Water Systems' "A Guide for Developing and Implementing Regulations for Onsite Non-Potable Water Systems."

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.

Report Title:

Onsite Non-potable Water Reuse Systems; Department of Health

Description:

Requires the Department of Health to adopt rules by January 1, 2021, for onsite non-potable water reuse systems. (HB444 HD1)

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