HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.R. NO.

160

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2003

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 
   


HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

urging the board of water supply of the county of maui to request the maui county department of water supply to conduct a study on the feasibility and availability of ground water resources in upcountry maui in order to eliminate the need for lead treatment and chemical additives in the upcountry maui water system.

 

 

WHEREAS, higher than acceptable levels of lead in the upcountry Maui drinking water system (Water System) were found in past years; and

WHEREAS, treatment methods such as soda ash (sodium carbonate), calcium carbonate, sodium polyphosphate, and various silicates, failed to control the lead leaching out of old lead pipes in private homes in the area; and

WHEREAS, zinc chloride and phosphoric acid (C-9), an anti-corrosive agent, was added into the Water System in an effort to control lead leaching out of old lead pipes in private homes after other alternatives means failed to control the problem; and

WHEREAS, this corrective measure was endorsed by the State and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in order to be in compliance with the lead and copper rule; and

WHEREAS, the addition of C-9 into the Water System began in June 2001 and has been fully operational since September 2001; and

WHEREAS, many residents have made complaints of skin, eye, and lung irritation that they attributed to the addition of C-9 into the Water System; and

WHEREAS, the EPA claims that C-9 is a safe additive because there does not seem to be toxicological data of a regulatory nature for C-9, based on an Integrated Risk Information System document examining carcinogenicity, oral and inhalation exposure of zinc compounds, and a United States Food and Drug Administration document entitled "Generally Regarded as Safe"; and

WHEREAS, as a result of community concerns, C-9 is being removed from the Water System and being replaced with an alternative phosphate to continue mandated treatment for excessive levels of lead as directed by the Safe Drinking Water Act; and

WHEREAS, as opposed to surface water resources, ground water resources are anti-corrosive, meaning ground water will not contribute to lead leaching and will not require treatment or additional chemicals; and

WHEREAS, the Water System is the only water system on the island of Maui that uses surface water as its source; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2003, that the Legislature urges the chairperson of the Board of Water Supply of Maui County to request the Maui County Department of Water Supply to conduct a study on the feasibility and availability of ground water resources in upcountry Maui to eliminate the need for lead treatment and chemical additives in the Water System; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of the study be submitted to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the 2004 Regular Session; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Department of Health, the Director of the Maui County Department of Water Supply, the Chairperson of the Maui County Board of Water Supply, the Chairperson of the Maui County Council, the Mayor of Maui County, the President of the Kula Community Association, the President of the Pukalani Community Association, the President of the Makawao Community Association, and the President of the Haiku Community Association.

Upcountry Maui Water System; Availability of Ground Water

Report Title:

Requesting a feasibility and availability of ground water resources for the upcountry Maui drinking water system to eliminate the need for lead treatment and chemical additives.