REPORT TITLE: 
Dual Line Water Supply Systems


DESCRIPTION:
Allows the commission on water resource management to require
the use of dual line water supply systems (which supply potable
and nonpotable water) in new industrial and commercial
developments located in designated water management areas.
(HB1902 CD1)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                        1902
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES                H.B. NO.           H.D. 1
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2000                                S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII                                            C.D. 1
                                                             
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                     A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO THE STATE WATER CODE.


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

 1      SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that water shortages and
 
 2 existing water quality will continue to worsen in many areas of
 
 3 the State as the urbanization of former agriculture lands reduces
 
 4 irrigation return-flow (i.e., groundwater recharge) and increases
 
 5 residential, industrial, and commercial water use.  One way to
 
 6 preserve this renewable but limited resource is to use nonpotable
 
 7 water whenever flushing toilets and watering lawns, or whenever
 
 8 the use of potable water is not necessary for health and safety
 
 9 reasons.  It is estimated that dual line water supply systems,
 
10 which supply potable and nonpotable water through parallel but
 
11 separate distribution lines, can reduce residential potable water
 
12 use by about fifty per cent.  One example of a successful
 
13 residential dual line water supply system can be found in
 
14 Kapalua, Maui, where ditch water is used for irrigation and well
 
15 water is used for drinking.  Because of health and safety
 
16 concerns, specifically cross-contamination and groundwater
 
17 quality, the use of dual line water supply systems in residential
 
18 settings has been limited to date.
 
19      In order to demonstrate the feasibility of using dual line
 
20 water supply systems in residential settings, and to generate
 

 
Page 2                                                     1902
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                                                        S.D. 1
                                                        C.D. 1

 
 1 public awareness of and support for this technology, this Act
 
 2 applies only to new industrial and commercial developments
 
 3 located in designated water management areas.  Public acceptance
 
 4 of dual line water supply systems may be our single, best hope
 
 5 for opening up arid parts of the State to development of any
 
 6 sort.
 
 7      SECTION 2.  Chapter 174C, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
 
 8 amended by adding a new section to part IV to be appropriately
 
 9 designated and to read as follows:
 
10      "�174C-     Dual line water supply systems; installation in
 
11 new industrial and commercial developments located in designated
 
12 water management areas.  (a)  The commission, as a condition for
 
13 issuing permits pursuant to this part, may require the use of
 
14 dual line water supply systems in new industrial and commercial
 
15 developments located in designated water management areas.  The
 
16 commission shall not require the use of dual line water supply
 
17 systems if:
 
18      (1)  There is a threat to existing water quality or to
 
19           public health and safety, as determined by the
 
20           department of health;
 
21      (2)  A source of nonpotable water will not be reasonably
 
22           available in the near future as determined by the
 
23           commission; or
 

 
Page 3                                                     1902
                                     H.B. NO.           H.D. 1
                                                        S.D. 1
                                                        C.D. 1

 
 1      (3)  There is a serious threat to permitted ground or
 
 2           surface water uses within a designated water management
 
 3           area as determined by the commission.
 
 4      (b)  The county boards of water supply, in consultation with
 
 5 the department of health, shall adopt standards for nonpotable
 
 6 water distributed through dual line water supply systems, and
 
 7 rules regarding the use of nonpotable water.  The standards and
 
 8 rules shall be adopted in accordance with chapter 91 and shall
 
 9 protect existing water quality and the health and safety of the
 
10 public.
 
11      (c)  For the purposes of this section, the term:
 
12      "Developments" means one or more commercial or industrial
 
13 subdivisions approved after the effective date of this Act.  It
 
14 shall not apply to any modification, addition to, or replacement
 
15 of, any commercial or industrial subdivision in existence prior
 
16 to the effective date of this Act.
 
17      "Dual line water supply system" means a supply system that
 
18 distributes potable and nonpotable water through parallel but
 
19 separate distribution lines."
 
20      SECTION 3.  New statutory material is underscored.
 
21      SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.