HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1303

THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

S.D. 1

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO WATER CONSERVATION.

 

 

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

 

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that conserving Hawaii's finite water resources is essential to ensure the health of the State's fresh water supply.  In response to the recent fuel spills at Red Hill, the city and county of Honolulu's board of water supply shut down one of Oahu's largest water sources, the Halawa shaft, which subsequently led to calls for water conservation on Oahu.  Other counties, in response to equipment breakdowns, drought, and other circumstances, have also had to implement calls for water conservation multiple times in recent years.

     The legislature also finds that residential irrigation is a major source of water use and, frequently, wasteful misuse.  When water conservation measures are in effect, reducing or ceasing irrigation is always one of the first things residents are asked to do because using less water for irrigation has a large impact for a relatively small sacrifice.  The legislature further finds that the practice of maintaining landscaping that is not suited to the local climate requires more labor, money, time, and water than landscape installations that are drought‑resistant, less water-intensive, and more suited to the local conditions.

     Therefore, the purpose of this Act is to appropriate moneys to the city and county of Honolulu board of water supply to create a pilot program that incentivizes residential homeowners in certain dry areas to replace water‑intensive landscaping with alternatives that reduce water use.

     SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2023-2024 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 as a grant-in-aid to the the city and county of Honolulu board of water supply to establish an irrigation water use reduction pilot program to provide:

     (1)  Incentives to residential homeowners in dry areas of Oahu that were previously served by the Aiea and Halawa wells who replace existing landscaping and irrigation with alternatives that lower water use; provided that preference may be given to alternatives that include native species and support pollinators; and

     (2)  Outreach services and education to the public concerning landscaping and irrigation alternatives that reduce water use;

provided further that no moneys appropriated shall be expended unless a forty per cent match is provided by the city and county of Honolulu; provided further that the rebate amount shall be determined by the city and county of Honolulu board of water supply but shall not be more than $1,500 per project; provided further that for a residential homeowner to qualify for the rebate under the irrigation water use reduction pilot program, the city and county of Honolulu board of water supply shall verify that the residential homeowner experienced a reduction in water use by at least thirty per cent and the replacement of landscaping or irrigation was performed by a licensed landscape contractor in good standing with the department of commerce and consumer affairs.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the city and county of Honolulu board of water supply for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 3.  The city and county of Honolulu board of water supply shall submit a report to the legislature no later than           , on the irrigation water use reduction pilot program; provided that the report shall include:

     (1)  Water use reduction metrics;

     (2)  Findings on the implementation of the program; and

     (3)  Any other information to further the program in the future.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on June 30, 3000.

 

 

Report Title:

City and County of Honolulu Board of Water Supply; Water Use Reduction Pilot Programs; Appropriation

 

Description:

Appropriates moneys to the City and County of Honolulu Board of Water Supply to create a pilot program that incentivizes residential homeowners in certain dry areas to replace landscaping and irrigation with alternatives that reduce water use.  Requires report to the Legislature.  Effective 6/30/3000.  (SD1)

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.