REPORT TITLE:
Wastewater Reuse


DESCRIPTION:
Directs the director of DOH to give priority to adopting rules to
encourage the reuse of water.  Defines "recycled water" and
"reclaimed water" as wastewater that by design has been treated
at a treatment works and is intended or used for a beneficial
purpose.  (HB1548 HD1)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                        1548 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES                H.B. NO.           H.D. 1
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 1999                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                   A  BILL  FOR  AN  ACT

RELATING TO WASTEWATER REUSE.



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

 1      SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that many areas of Hawaii
 
 2 are blessed with an abundance of freshwater.  With increasing
 
 3 demands on Hawaii's natural resources, however, the future
 
 4 sustainability of freshwater is of great concern.  These
 
 5 increasing demands may soon outpace the available freshwater
 
 6 supply.
 
 7      In other states where freshwater is in short supply, much
 
 8 attention is given to the reuse of wastewater through water
 
 9 recycling.  The legislature finds that Hawaii should follow a
 
10 similar path and encourage the use of recycled water, especially
 
11 for agricultural and irrigation uses.  Hawaii must proactively
 
12 develop policies that encourage and support the reuse of treated
 
13 wastewater effluent for beneficial purposes.  State laws and
 
14 rules need to be developed, amended, and clarified to encourage
 
15 the reuse of water, authorize the distribution and sale of
 
16 recycled water, clarify requirements, and regulate and mitigate
 
17 the possible health and environmental risks of recycling
 
18 processed wastewater.  
 

 
Page 2                                                     1548
                                     H.B. NO.           H.D. 1
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1      SECTION 2.  The director of health shall give priority to
 
 2 adopting rules, in accordance with chapter 91, that will
 
 3 encourage the reuse of water.  The rules shall also establish the
 
 4 definition and requirements of different categories of recycled
 
 5 water and reclaimed water, as well as recognize different levels
 
 6 of treatment and purpose.
 
 7      SECTION 3.  Section 342D-1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
 
 8 amended by adding a new definition to be appropriately inserted
 
 9 and to read as follows:
 
10      ""Recycled water" and "reclaimed water" mean wastewater that
 
11 by design has been treated at a treatment works and is intended
 
12 or used for a beneficial purpose."
 
13      SECTION 4.  New statutory material is underscored.
 
14      SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.