STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1904

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.C.R. No. 102

H.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Higher Education and Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 102, H.D. 1, entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH CENTER TO CONDUCT A FEASIBILITY STUDY ON NEW TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO CESSPOOL WATER REMEDIATION, WHICH MAY INCLUDE ORGANIC BIODEGRADABLE WATER CLARIFIERS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the University of Hawaii Water Resources Research Center to conduct a feasibility study on new technologies related to cesspool water remediation, which may include organic biodegradable water clarifiers.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health; PJY Global Consultants, LLC; Hawai‘i Reef and Ocean Coalition; and two individuals. Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committees find that approximately eighty-two thousand cesspools in the State must be converted to an approved wastewater system or connected to a sewage system by 2050, pursuant to Act 125, Session Laws of Hawaii 2017. New, innovative wastewater management technologies that are capable of providing solutions for entire communities for a fraction of the cost of existing technology hold the potential to quickly and effectively convert thousands of cesspools across the State. To determine the suitability of these technologies, such as organic biodegradable water clarifiers, to Hawaii's cesspool conversion efforts, a feasibility study of new cesspool water remediation technologies is necessary.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Higher Education and Agriculture and Environment that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 102, H.D. 1, and recommend its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Higher Education and Agriculture and Environment,

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair

________________________________ DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair