THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	878
TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2015		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII		H.D. 1
		C.D. 1

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO WASTEWATER.

 

 

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

 

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that similar to the situation in Tuvalu, the current flush and septic systems in certain areas of Hawaii are ill-suited due to geographic challenges and scarce water supplies.  One such area is Kaloko-Honokohau National Historic Park in Hawaii county.  The site presents formidable engineering challenges such as proximity to the ocean, hard volcanic rock, and groundwater just two feet below the surface.  To address sewage needs, park officials installed two odorless, zero-discharge composting toilets in an attractive, prefabricated building that features a low-gradient ramp to provide handicapped access.  Prior to the installation of the composting toilets, there were no public toilets for visitors to the park, and the beach was strewn with human feces.

     The legislature further finds that composting toilets use no water and produce compost that can be used to enrich the soil.  Over time, in the presence of oxygen, heat, and moisture, biochemical processes convert the waste to stabilized compost.  Pathogens are nearly eliminated, and the volume of organic material is reduced by ninety per cent or more.

     The purpose of this Act is to address the lack of waste disposal systems throughout the State by authorizing the counties to approve the installation and use of composting toilets in areas that are inaccessible to municipal wastewater systems, thereby benefiting the people living in those communities and the health and welfare of the State as a whole.

     SECTION 2.  Section 27-21.6, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§27-21.6  Functions reassigned to the counties.  The following functions are hereby reassigned to the several counties:

     (1)  The medical care of inmates of county jails;

     (2)  The rendering of medical investigatory services requested by the police;

     (3)  Physical examinations of employees to the extent that such functions had been performed immediately prior to the adoption of Act 97, Session Laws of Hawaii 1965;

     (4)  The care and treatment of county workers' compensation cases to the extent that such functions had been performed immediately prior to the adoption of Act 97, Session Laws of Hawaii 1965; and

     (5)  The regulation of the design, construction, and operation of individual wastewater systems and private wastewater treatment works[,]; provided that [the]:

         (A)  The transfer of this function to each county shall take place on the date that the expenditure of start-up funds is made by the State to such county for this purpose[.]; and

         (B)  The counties may approve the installation and use of composting toilets in areas that are inaccessible to municipal wastewater systems.  As used in this subparagraph, "composting toilet" means a toilet that uses no water or very little water and uses natural processes to treat waste."

     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:

Counties; Wastewater; Individual Systems

 

Description:

Authorizes the counties to approve the installation and use of composting toilets in areas that are inaccessible to municipal wastewater systems.  Defines "composting toilets".  (CD1)

 

 

 

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