SB 329: Water Pollution; Recycled Water; Treatment Works Effluent; Counties; Reports

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO WATER POLLUTION.

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

     SECTION 1.  Chapter 342D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§342D-     Recycled water; requirement.  By January 1, 2045, no less than      per cent of treatment works effluent shall be recycled water classified as R-1 and that is suitable for use in recycled water systems."

     SECTION 2.  By January 1, 2027, each county shall report to the department of health on the feasibility of recycling treatment works effluent at a level that protects human health and the environment and is sufficient for irrigation or suitable for use in recycled water systems.  In determining what is feasible, the counties shall estimate the costs of treatment needed to protect human health and the environment, costs for delivery of the water, local demand for recycled water near the treatment plants, and other factors the counties may consider relevant.

     SECTION 3.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.

Report Title:

Water Pollution; Recycled Water; Treatment Works Effluent; Counties; Reports

Description:

Requires at least fifty per cent of treatment works effluent to be R-1 recycled water by January 1, 2045.  Requires each county to report to the Department of Health by 1/1/2027 on the feasibility of recycling treatment works effluent that meets certain standards.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD1)

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

Relating to water pollution.

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

     SECTION 1.  Chapter 342D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§342D-     Recycled water; requirement.  By January 1, 2045, no less than fifty per cent of treatment works effluent shall be recycled water classified as R-1 and that is suitable for use in recycled water systems."

     SECTION 2.  Section 342D-50.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

     "(a)  Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, no person, including any public body, shall discharge any treated or raw sewage into state waters after December 31, [2026;] 2030; provided that this section shall not apply to a sewage treatment plant that:

     (1)  Utilizes sewage to produce clean energy pursuant to section 196-10.5[;] and has primary and secondary outfalls; provided that the primary outfall shall not be located in state waters; and

     (2)  Is in compliance with this chapter, rules adopted pursuant to this chapter, or a permit or variance issued by the director."

     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.

Report Title:

Water Pollution; Wastewater; Sewage; Recycled Water; Treatment

Description:

Requires at least fifty per cent of treatment works effluent to be R-1 recycled water by January 1, 2045.  Amends the year by which no treated or raw sewage shall be discharged into state waters.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1393

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2025

RE:   S.B. No. 329

      H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

     Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred S.B. No. 329 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WATER POLLUTION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to:

     (1)  Require at least fifty percent of treatments works effluent to be R-1 recycled water by January 1, 2045;

     (2)  Extend the date after which treated or raw sewage is prohibited from being discharged into state waters from December 31, 2026, to December 31, 2030; and

     (3)  Clarify that the prohibition on the discharge of treated or raw sewage shall not apply to sewage treatment plants that produce clean energy and have primary and secondary outfalls.

     Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Environmental Management of the County of Hawaiʻi.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; Department of Health; Department of Environmental Services of the City and County of Honolulu; and Hawaiʻi Reef and Ocean Coalition.

     Your Committee finds that reusing recycled water for non-potable purposes helps conserve fresh water resources and promotes sustainable resource-management practices.  This measure encourages the reuse of recycled water by setting a goal for a minimum amount of treatment works effluent to be recycled and suitable for use in recycled water systems.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing the percentage of treatment works effluent required to be recycled water to an unspecified percentage;

     (2)  Removing the extension of the date after which the discharge of treated or raw sewage into state waters is prohibited;

     (3)  Removing language narrowing the kind of sewage treatment plants that are exempt from the prohibition on the discharge of treated or raw sewage;

     (4)  Adding a requirement that by January 1, 2027, the counties shall report to the Department of Health on the feasibility of recycling treatment works effluent that meets certain standards;

     (5)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

     (6)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 329, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 329, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 722

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 329

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 329 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WATER POLLUTION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to amend requirements for wastewater treatment.

     More specifically, the measure:

     (1)  Requires at least fifty percent of treatment works effluent to be R-1 recycled water by January 1, 2045; and

     (2)  Extends from 2026 to 2030 the year by which no treated or raw sewage shall be discharged into state waters.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from two individuals.

     Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and Department of Health.

     Your Committee finds that upgrading the State's water treatment and water recycling infrastructure will produce short‑term and long-term environmental benefits by reducing water pollution and creating a sustainable source of irrigation water for agricultural production and other uses.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 329 and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 178

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 329

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 329 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WATER POLLUTION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

     (1)  Extend the year by which no treated or raw sewage shall be discharged into state waters from 2026 to 2030; and

     (2)  Require at least fifty percent of treatment works effluent to be R-1 recycled water by January 1, 2045.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Agribusiness Development Corporation, Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United, Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau, and one individual.

     Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and Department of Health.

     Your Committee finds that water is a precious natural resource, requiring management through appropriate preservation and conservation efforts to ensure sustainability for future generations.  R-1 recycled water is a valuable resource that can be safely used for irrigation, landscaping, and other non-potable applications.  Your Committee recognizes that increasing the reuse of treated water will reduce dependency on finite freshwater supplies and allow farmers to maintain production levels while safeguarding overall water resources.  Your Committee further finds that extending the year by which no treated or raw sewage shall be discharged into state waters will provide additional time for those impacted to comply with this critical mandate.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 329 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture and Environment,