SR36

WHEREAS, freshwater scarcity is an increasingly present threat to communities around the world in the face of population growth and climate change; and

WHEREAS, freshwater is vital not only to the sustenance of life in the State, but also its economy and culture, including supporting agricultural production and tourism; and

WHEREAS, islands like Oʻahu rely on underground aquifers for their freshwater supply; and

WHEREAS, underground aquifers take decades to replenish naturally and are susceptible to chemical spills and leaks, draughts, and commercial overuse; and

WHEREAS, a decrease of rainfall of eighteen percent over the last thirty years, a population that has doubled since 1959, constantly rising visitor levels, and the destruction of half of its watershed forests have contributed to a freshwater crisis in the State; and

WHEREAS, desalination, the process of removing salt from seawater, offers a promising solution to the freshwater scarcity crisis; and

WHEREAS, despite the abundance of seawater surrounding the State and need for an alternative source of freshwater, desalination can be cost-prohibitive and energy-intensive, necessitating a thorough examination of whether it is the solution best suited to the State's needs; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, that the Department of Land and Natural Resources is requested to convene and provide administrative assistance to a Desalination Planning Task Force to determine whether the use of desalination for large-scale water consumption in the State is feasible; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Task Force is requested to consist of the following members:

(1) The Chairperson of the Commission on Water Resource Management or the Chairperson's designee, who shall serve as Chair of the Task Force;

(2) The Director of Health or the Director's designee;

(3) The Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture or the Chairperson's designee;

(4) The Chief Executive Officer of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs or the Chief Executive Officer's designee;

(5) The Chairs of the Senate and House of Representatives Standing Committees on Water and Land or their designees; and

(6) The Director or Manager and Chief Engineer of each county's Department or Board of Water Supply; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Task Force is requested to:

(1) Conduct a study to determine the water demand for housing, agriculture, and industrial uses throughout the State, including in high-need areas;

(2) Examine the feasibility of using desalination as a source of clean and safe drinking water to supplement the State's existing groundwater and surface water resources;

(3) Determine the extent to which the use of desalination will:

(A) Assist the State in meeting its projected future water needs; and

(B) Improve the resiliency of the State's water systems, considering in particular the impacts of the water crisis caused by the contamination at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility;

(4) Determine whether it is feasible for the Commission on Water Resource Management to integrate desalination into its overall water management plans;

(5) Consider the extent to which the construction of desalination plants may affect or interfere with historical sites and Native Hawaiian cultural sites and practices, including burial sites; and

(6) Address environmental concerns associated with the operation of desalination plants, including high energy consumption and disposal of brine concentrate; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Task Force is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2026; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Task Force is requested to dissolve on June 30, 2026; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the President of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, Director of Health, Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture, Chief Executive Officer of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and Mayors of each county.

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

DLNR; Desalination; Desalination Planning Task Force; Report

THE SENATE	S.R. NO.	36
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025
STATE OF HAWAII