On Kaua‘i alone we send more than 70 percent of our “gray water” down the pipes every day. Are we wasting a precious resource? Rep. Jessica Wooley, D-47th District, has introduced House Bill 763, which aims to conserve potable water.
On Kaua‘i alone we send more than 70 percent of our “gray water” down the pipes every day. Are we wasting a precious resource?
Rep. Jessica Wooley, D-47th District, has introduced House Bill 763, which aims to conserve potable water. The bill requires the state Department of Health to establish a gray water recycling program for residences not served by a county wastewater system and permits counties to establish gray water recycling programs in areas served by a county wastewater system.
Current law permits the DOH to authorize any county to implement a gray water recycling program in its jurisdiction. However, the law requires the counties participating in the program to provide detailed plans addressing 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 other factors deemed relevant by the DOH. As a result, no county has taken on the burdensome task of submitting a detailed plan for approval.
HB 763 seeks to address this stalemate by revising the current law and placing the responsibility for developing gray water recycling programs with the DOH.
In testimony, DOH opposed the measure because of a conflict with HRS 107, Part II, “State Building Code and Design Standards.” According to Chiyome Fukino, M.D., Director of Health, the DOH supports the use of gray water from residences for irrigation, but stated that the “State Building Code Council process should be tried before amending the law.”
On Thursday, Apollo Kaua‘i, an organization whose vision is to see Kaua‘i as a model for sustainable living, discussed gray water as a means to provide water security and address the amount of electricity it takes to process the water used on the island.
In his presentation, Ben Sullivan noted that Kaua‘i cannot continue with its current water and wastewater system practices.
“The current system evolved during a period when natural resources were perceived to be largely unlimited,” he said.
Kaua‘i water is distributed by means of electricity.
“Gray water” is wastewater collected from clothes washers, showers, bathtubs, laundry or bathroom sinks. When properly collected and stored, gray water can be safely reused — reducing fresh water consumption.
Gray water is distinguished from “black water,” which comes from toilets, kitchen sinks and dishwashers. Black water is not reused in homes due to possible contamination by bacteria, viruses and pathogens. HB 763 will now go to the House finance committee for a hearing.
The public is encouraged to get involved by visiting www.capitol.hawaii.gov and submitting testimony on this bill.
Rep. Mina Morita’s office can be reached at repmorita1@hawaii.capitol.gov or toll free from Kaua‘i at 274-3141 then dial 68435#.
For footage of the gray water bill, search “The Ledge Hawaii” on youtube.com
