Report Title:

Drinking Water; Medicinal Additives Prohibited

Description:

Prohibits the addition of medicinal additives to the public water supply, but not additives commonly used to make water safe and potable. Exempts federally owned and operate water systems.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

768

TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2005

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

RELATING TO WATER.

 

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

SECTION 1. Since ancient times, Hawaiians have treasured water as the spiritual fount of all life and as a precious resource that must be preserved for the benefit of all. The legislature finds that the state's drinking water is a vital necessity of life and should be maintained free of any chemical additives, except those necessary to make it potable for human consumption. Drinking water should not be used as a means for the delivery of chemicals for medical or dental purposes when other alternatives are available.

The legislature further finds that using the drinking water system for the delivery of chemical additives for medicinal purposes is neither cost effective nor environmentally sound since more than ninety-nine per cent of the chemicals will not be ingested, but will be discharged into the environment by various means, including washing cars, watering yards, and flushing toilets, thereby wasting tax dollars.

Article XI, section 9 of the Hawaii State Constitution guarantees an individual's right to a clean and healthy environment. The legislature further finds that it should not be the role of government to override an individual's freedom of choice by forced medication or to compel individuals to purchase purified water to protect their own health.

The purpose of this Act is to prohibit the introduction of any chemical additives considered to be medication into the state's drinking water supply.

SECTION 2. Chapter 340E, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§340E- Medication in drinking water; prohibition. No person shall add any product, substance, or chemical to the public water supply for the purpose of medicating, treating, or affecting the physical or mental functions of the body of any person; provided that this section shall not preclude the addition of water treatment chemicals used to make water potable and safe to drink, such as chlorine and anti-corrosion chemicals to reduce lead. This prohibition shall not apply to federally-owned and operated water systems such as those on military facilities."

SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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