Report Title:

Wastewater; Gray Water Recycling

 

Description:

Requires the department of health to establish a gray water recycling program for premises not served by a county wastewater system.  Permits counties to establish gray water recycling programs in areas served by a county wastewater system.

 


HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

763

TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT


 

 

relating to Gray water recycling.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that current law permits the department of health to authorize any county to implement a gray water recycling program in its jurisdiction.  However, the law puts the burden on the counties to present a detailed plan for the program, including rules and procedures.  Although the department of health has adopted rules authorizing use of gray water recycling systems, no county appears to have sought approval to implement a gray water recycling program in its jurisdiction.

     The legislature also finds that legislation was considered in 2008 that would place responsibility for developing gray water recycling programs with the department of health.  The director of health testified that while the department has rules authorizing the use of gray water for subsurface irrigation for residences with individual wastewater systems, it lacks the resources to oversee implementation of a gray water program for residences served by county sewer systems.

     The purpose of this Act is to conserve valuable potable water by:

     (1)  Requiring the department of health to establish a gray water recycling program for residential premises not served by a county wastewater system; and

     (2)  Permitting the counties to establish similar gray water recycling programs in areas served by a county wastewater system.

     SECTION 2.  Section 342D-70, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "[[]§342D-70[]]  Use of gray water from residential units for irrigation purposes.  (a)  The department [may authorize any county to implement] shall establish a gray water recycling program [within its jurisdiction.] for premises not served by a county wastewater system.  The gray water recycling program shall be limited to the use of gray water from residential units for the purpose of irrigating lawns [and], gardens[.], and composts.

     [The county seeking authorization shall submit to the department for its approval prior to implementation a detailed residential gray water recycling plan, including rules and procedures for the proposed program.  The plan shall address the appropriateness of the program for the geographic area, the environmental impact of the program on the geographic area, the cost of the program, and any other factors deemed relevant by the department.  The department may revoke the authorization at any time.]

     (b)  Any county may establish, pursuant to rules that are no more restrictive than those adopted by the department for the program established pursuant to subsection (a), a gray water recycling program for premises served by the county wastewater system.

     (c)  For the purposes of this section, "gray water" means any water from the domestic plumbing system of a residence except toilets; provided that the discharged gray water is not contaminated with any household hazardous waste as defined in section 342G-1 or any other contaminant the department deems inappropriate."

     SECTION 3.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

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

 

INTRODUCED BY:

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