STAND. COM. REP. NO. 79

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 93

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Water and Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 93 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO REUSE ZONES,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require nonpotable water users and developers within a certain distance of wastewater treatment plants to use R-1 water.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Honolulu Board of Water Supply and Hawai‘i Community Foundation. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Health, Department of the Attorney General, and Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Your Committees find that diverting recycled and reusable wastewater for freshwater applications and non-drinking purposes is a valuable technique for both reusing and preserving vital and finite water resources. This measure will establish reuse zones to increase water reuse usage across the State by requiring users or developers within a certain distance of a wastewater treatment plant to utilize recycled wastewater where they are using freshwater for non-drinking purposes.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Water and Land that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 93 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Water and Land,

________________________________ LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair