Bill Text: HI HB1173 | 2017 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Relating To A Water Irrigation Pilot Project.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-02-09 - Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Ito excused (1). [HB1173 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2017-HB1173-Amended.html
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
1173 |
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TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2017 |
H.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO A WATER IRRIGATION PILOT PROJECT.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. (a) There is established a one-year irrigation water conservation best management practices pilot program, under which the department of accounting and general services, department of transportation, and department of land and natural resources shall implement irrigation water conservation best management practices, as established by the Landscape Industry Council of Hawaii, to improve the efficiency of all existing and new landscape irrigation installations, in the area of Kapolei, Oahu, through low cost, practical measures. Irrigation water conservation best management practices shall include:
(1) Best management practices for maintenance; and
(2) Best management practices for new installations or major renovations.
(b) As used in this section:
"Best management practices for maintenance" includes the use of:
(1) Seasonal timing adjustments to irrigation controller systems;
(2) Aeration of lawns when compaction increases, and short run-time cycle irrigation in areas where runoff and ponding occur;
(3) Irrigation controllers programmed for long run times to water as deeply, evenly, and infrequently as possible to encourage deep rooting and increased drought resistance;
(4) Mulch, organic matter in soils, and drought-tolerant plants or plants that are naturally occurring at the site and surroundings;
(5) The practice of allowing grass to grow taller to conserve water; and
(6) Water schedule systems that run water at night;
provided that best management practices for maintenance may also include periodic practical water audits to review the system components and verify that the components meet the original design criteria for the efficient operation and uniform distribution of water.
"Best management practices for new installations or major renovations" includes the use of:
(1) New installations that require a coverage test prior to acceptance; and irrigation system designs, plans, and specifications that remain on site and contain water conservation language;
(2) Systems designed with sprinklers spaced head-to-head coverage or better, and with a precipitation rate not exceeding the soil infiltration rate;
(3) Systems designed to irrigate similar site, slope, sun exposure, soil conditions, and plant materials with similar water use on the same circuit;
(4) Climate-based automatic irrigation controllers utilizing either evapotranspiration and weather sensors, or soil moisture sensors;
(5) Flow sensors with a malfunction valve shutoff system capability in an irrigation controller and water submeters that measure outdoor water usage on larger sites;
(6) Water conserving irrigation components and check valves and drip irrigation for individual specimen plants;
(7) Storm water design methods, including infiltration beds, swales, and basins that allow water to collect and soak into the ground on site, utilizing low impact development principles;
(8) Nonpotable water sources when available; and
(9) A qualified irrigation designer, such as an Irrigation Association-certified irrigation designer, Irrigation Association-certified irrigation contractor, or a maintenance contractor with water conservation expertise.
SECTION 2. The department of accounting and general services, department of transportation, and department of land and natural resources shall each submit a report regarding the results of the one-year irrigation water conservation best management practices pilot program, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2019.
SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.
Report Title:
Water Conservation; Best Management Practices; Public Agencies
Description:
Establishes a one-year pilot program requiring DAGS, DOT, and DLNR to implement irrigation water conservation best management practices in Kapolei, Oahu, as established by the Landscape Industry Council of Hawaii. Requires DAGS, DOT, and DLNR to each submit a report regarding the results of the pilot program. (HB1173 HD1)
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
