STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1558

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.R. No. 99

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was referred S.R. No. 99 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO CONVENE A WORKING GROUP TO ASSESS THE FEASIBILITY OF ALLOWING BUSINESS OWNERS IN THE STATE TO UTILIZE FILTERED WATER COLLECTED BY WATER CATCHMENT SYSTEMS FOR BUSINESS ACTIVITIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Department of Health to convene a working group to assess the feasibility of allowing business owners in the State to utilize filtered water collected by water catchment systems for business activities.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Plumbing and Mechanical Contractors Association of Hawaii.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Health.

Your Committee finds that pursuing innovative solutions to decrease use of the State's limited aquifers is critical to addressing the fragility of the State's water system. Your Committee further finds that water catchment systems are one innovative solution that can supplement potable water systems and conserve natural resources by efficiently capturing and utilizing rainwater; however, existing law prohibits the use of captured water for business activities. Your Committee notes that for water collected from a water catchment system to be considered viable, the drinking water produced from the water catchment system must meet quality standards and be subject to regulatory control. Your Committee further notes that regulation of drinking water sources in the State involves multiple agencies and overlapping federal and state regulations. Accordingly, this resolution convenes the Business Activity Water Catchment System Working Group comprising relevant stakeholders from the State, counties, and public to collaborate on the potential authorization of using water from water catchment systems for business activities.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Requesting the Director of Health or the Director's designee to serve as the chairperson of the Business Activity Water Catchment System Working Group, rather than the members from the Senate and House of Representatives to serve as co-chairs;

(2) Adding the Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture as a member of the Business Activity Water Catchment System Working Group; and

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

Your Committee notes the Department of Health's request for $100,000 to retain a working group facilitator to assist the Business Activity Water Catchment System Working Group in performing the assessment and developing the recommendations requested in this measure. Your Committee requests that the Department of Health submit a request for the needed funds to be included in its budget.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health and Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 99, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.R. No. 99, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health and Human Services,

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JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair