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SB209
THE SENATE
S.B. NO.
209
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025
STATE OF HAWAII
A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating
to water
.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
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SECTION 1.
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The legislature finds that municipal water
agencies have asked residents to conserve water due to severe drought
conditions, climate change, and the Oahu-based public health crisis and
environmental disaster caused by fuel released from the Red Hill Bulk Fuel
Storage Facility.
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However,
despite these calls for conservation, the legislature finds that relevant
agencies need additional means to restrict certain nonessential uses of water,
including water for purely recreational or ornamental purposes.
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These restrictions are required to ensure
that water, the State's most precious and finite resource, remains available to
support human health and safety and to ensure the maintenance of the State's
economic future.
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The
purpose of this Act is to prohibit a person, which is defined for purposes of
chapter 174C, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to include firms, associations,
organizations, partnerships, business trusts, corporations, companies, and
government agencies, from using one million gallons or more of potable water
for recreational or ornamental purposes.
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SECTION
2.
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Chapter 174C, Hawaii Revised
Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part IV to be appropriately
designated and to read as follows:
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�174C-
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Recreational or
ornamental uses; restrictions on use.
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(a)
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No person shall use, and no person issued a
permit pursuant to this chapter shall permit a person to use, one million or
more gallons of potable water per year for recreational or ornamental uses.
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(b)
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This section shall not apply
to r
ecreational or ornamental uses of water that solely use recycled
water.
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(c)
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As used in this section:
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"Recreational
or ornamental use" means water that is used solely for recreational or
ornamental purposes, including but not limited to:
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(1)
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The filling or refilling of swimming
pools, wading pools, wave pools, or spas;
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(2)
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Decorative ponds or lakes,
fountains, or artificial lakes; and
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(3)
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Any other use of water determined by
the commission to be a recreational or ornamental use.
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"Recycled
water" means treated wastewater that by design is intended or used for a
beneficial purpose.
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SECTION
3.
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This Act does not affect rights and
duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were
begun before its effective date.
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SECTION
4.
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New statutory material is
underscored.
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SECTION
5.
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This Act shall take effect upon its
approval.
INTRODUCED BY:
_____________________________
Report Title:
Water
Use; Commission on Water Resource Management; Recreational or Ornamental
Purposes; Prohibition
Description:
Prohibits
the use of 1,000,000 or more gallons of water per year for recreational or
ornamental purposes.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.