STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1786

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2005

RE: H.C.R. No. 222

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 222, H.D. 1, entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO REVIEW AND STRENGTHEN ITS WATER QUALITY STANDARDS AND PRACTICES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request that the Department of Health review and strengthen its water quality standards and practices.

The Department of Health and the Maui Department of Water Supply submitted testimony in opposition to this measure.

It is necessary to ensure that residents have access to a safe supply of drinking water. Upcountry Maui is an example of one area where the quality of the drinking water has deteriorated and has become a major cause of concern to residents of that area. One area of concern is adherence to Environmental Protection Agency lead and copper rules. There is a definite need for improvements in the operation, understanding, and handling of the situation. The Department testified that it has been and will continue to actively work with the Maui Department of Water Supply and the residents of upcountry Maui to address concerns regarding the water quality.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting reference to strengthening the Department's water quality standards and practices and instead, requesting the Department to actively work with the residents in upcountry Maui to address their concerns;

(2) Requesting the Department to review its water quality standards and practices in light of continuing concerns regarding deteriorating water quality in upcountry Maui;

(3) Requesting the Department to petition the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to review adherence to EPA lead and copper rules; and

(4) Requesting that certified copies of this measure be transmitted to the Director of the Maui County Department of Water Supply, and the President of the Kula Association, as a representative of upcountry Maui.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 222, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 222, H.D. 1, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair