STAND. COM. REP. NO. 693

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 901

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 901 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ONSITE NON-POTABLE WATER REUSE SYSTEMS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require the Department of Health to adopt rules for onsite non-potable water reuse systems.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Ulupono Initiative, One World One Water, The Nature Conservancy Hawai‘i, Hawai‘i Community Foundation, O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, Surfrider Foundation Hawaii Chapters, and three individuals.

Your Committee finds that as an island state, Hawaii has limited access to natural fresh water and unlike in other states, it is not economically feasible to ship in additional supplies when needed. The use of recycled water for non-potable applications has proven safe and feasible in Hawaii in regulatory schemes and in high-rise and mid-rise developments in New York, California, Japan, and Australia, among 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.

Your Committee further finds that a water reuse task force was convened by the Department of Health based on House Concurrent Resolution No. 86, S.D. 1 (2018), to identify policies to help scale up water reuse in the State. The task force recommended increasing onsite water reuse at the development level and following the National Blue Ribbon Commission's best management practices for non-potable water systems to help the State achieve its 2030 goal of doubling wastewater reuse.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the deadline by which the Department of Health must adopt rules for onsite non-potable water reuse systems from January 1, 2020, to January 1, 2021, due to the complexity of adopting rules for the expanded program and the need to consult with affected parties; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 901, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 901, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture and Environment,

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MIKE GABBARD, Chair