Bill Text: HI HB445 | 2020 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Relating To Capital Improvement Projects For Water Reuse.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2019-12-01 - Carried over to 2020 Regular Session. [HB445 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2020-HB445-Amended.html
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
445 |
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THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019 |
H.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS FOR WATER REUSE.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that for centuries, Hawai‘i has been blessed with consistent rainfall, advantageous geology for aquifers, and high quality drinking water stores. Recent findings, however, raise concerns about the long-term fresh water security for the State as members of the scientific community, including the University of Hawai‘i, have documented troubling trends including reduced rainfall, higher evaporation rates, and declining stream flows. Evidence suggests that rainfall has decreased twenty-two per cent in Hawai‘i over the last thirty years, and while computer models differ markedly in their predictions regarding precipitation patterns and water availability in Hawai‘i over the coming decades, the unmistakable observed trend is one of decreasing rainfall and increased incidence of drought. If the current trend holds, in 2030 Hawai‘i will receive only seventy-five per cent of the rain that it received in 1985. As Hawai‘i enters an era of fresh water uncertainty, time is limited to preserve fresh water supplies through water conservation, recharge, and reuse.
The legislature further finds that for water reuse, the use of recycled water from non-potable applications has proven safe and feasible under the existing regulatory regime in Hawai‘i and many other states, as well as in other industrialized nations of the world. Increasing the use of recycled water has proven to be most successful where governmental incentives and mandates are in place as stimuli for the needed investments by providers of recycled water and acceptance by users of recycled water.
In order to advance water reuse in Hawai‘i, pursuant to H.C.R. No. 86, S.D. 1, Regular Session of 2018, the department of health convened a water reuse task force to identify barriers and solutions to expanded water reuse in the State. Task force participants included representatives from the senate and house of representatives, department of health, board of land and natural resources' commission on water resource management, board of agriculture, the counties, Honolulu board of water supply, Hawai‘i Fresh Water Council, and Hawai‘i Community Foundation. The task force agreed that in order to increase water reuse in Hawai‘i, demonstration projects must be developed to raise awareness about the safety and feasibility of water recycling. The task force specifically identified several water reuse demonstration projects, which were chosen for their readiness, public outreach capacity, high visibility, innovation, and high volume of water reuse.
The purpose of this Act is to authorize the issuance of general obligation bonds to make capital improvements to the State's water reuse systems.
SECTION 2. The director of finance is authorized to issue general obligation bonds in the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary is appropriated for fiscal year 2019-2020 for the purpose of capital improvement projects for water reuse systems as follows:
1. Kanaha beach park greywater reuse demonstration project.
Installation $
Updates and improvements $
Total funding $
The sum appropriated for this capital improvement project shall be expended by the county of Maui department of water supply.
2. Kealakehe wastewater treatment facility
Design of dual piping system to irrigate with R-1 recycled water and provide safe access to potable water.
Design $
Total Funding $
The sum appropriated for this capital improvement project shall be expended by the county of Hawaii.
SECTION 3. The appropriation made for the capital improvement projects authorized by this Act shall not lapse at the end of the fiscal biennium for which the appropriation is made; provided that all moneys from the appropriation unencumbered as of June 30, 2022, shall lapse as of that date.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.
Report Title:
Water Reuse Demonstration Projects; CIP; GO Bond
Description:
Authorizes general obligation bonds for capital improvements to the State's water reuse systems. (HB445 HD1)
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
