STAND. COM. REP. NO. 589

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 1999

                                 RE: H.B. No. 1548
                                     H.D. 1




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection, to
which was referred H.B. No. 1548 entitled: 

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill, as received by your Committee, is
to define "recycled water" and "reclaimed water" as water, which,
as a result of treatment of waste, is suitable for a direct
beneficial use or a controlled use that would not otherwise occur
and is therefore considered a valuable resource.

     Testimony in support of the bill was received from the
Department of Health (DOH), the Department of Environmental
Services for the City and County of Honolulu, and the Honolulu
Board of Water Supply.  Waimanalo Citizens for a Healthy Future
submitted testimony requesting that water from anaerobic
digestion of garbage be included in the bill.

     Your Committee finds that increasing the safe use of
recycled water throughout the State is an important goal.  The
promotion of the recycled water program will assist the State in
conserving its limited water resources and enhancing the water
quality of Hawaii's waters.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Rewriting the findings section;


 
 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 589
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     (2)  Directing the Director of DOH to give priority to
          adopting rules to encourage the reuse of water; 

     (3)  Providing that the rules shall also establish the
          definition and requirements of different categories of
          recycled water and reclaimed water, as well as
          recognizing different levels of treatment and purpose;

     (4)  Changing the definition of "recycled water" and
          "reclaimed water" to mean wastewater that by design has
          been treated at a treatment works and is intended or
          used for a beneficial purpose; and
     
     (5)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for
          purposes of style and clarity.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection that is attached
to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and
purpose of H.B. No. 1548, as amended herein, and recommends that
it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No.
1548, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Energy and
                                   Environmental Protection,



                                   ______________________________
                                   HERMINA M. MORITA, Chair