Washington, D.C. - The United States Senate has passed by unanimous consent legislation introduced by U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-Hawaii) authorizing three water reclamation projects in the State of Hawaii. The legislation, S. 960, the Hawaii Water Resources Act of 2003, authorizes federal participation in the design, planning, and construction of three water reclamation projects on Oahu, Hawaii, and Maui.
"We must prepare for long-term growth and look to alternative sources of water such as the ocean and reclaimed water," Akaka noted. " The projects in this bill will advance our long-term water security."
The Oahu project, the Kalaeloa Desalination Facility in Kalaeloa, will provide reliable potable water through resource diversification to meet existing and future demands, particularly in the Ewa area of Oahu where water demands are outpacing the availability of drinking water. The new desalination facility to be built would desalinate five million gallons per day. The Big Island project, the Kealakehe Demonstration Wetlands Project in North Kona, will maximize the reuse potential of effluent currently being discharged into a temporary disposal sump from the Kealakehe Wastewater Treatment Plant by constructing subsurface and open surface wetlands to reduce the concentration of suspended solids in the effluent. The third project, the West Maui Recycled Water Distribution System Expansion in Lahaina, will reduce the use of potable water by extending the County of Maui's main recycled water pipeline. Extension of the recycled water distribution system for commercial irrigation will reduce the use of drinking water for irrigation.
"It may not be well known outside of the islands that Hawaii suffers extreme droughts, not significantly different than the current drought in the West and the Southwest," Akaka said. "In fact, Hawaii has a record of recurring drought. Over the last eight years, every county in the state has experienced serious drought conditions, and in 2003, statewide drought was declared. Despite recent rains, rainfall, stream flow, and ground-water levels are below normal levels. We depend upon our aquifers and surface water for our water supply. The amount of water used to irrigate farm crops, golf courses, and residential and commercial landscaping is more than 70 percent of the drinking water we use. That's about 750 million gallons a day, and according to a recent federal report, demand continues to grow. It is important that we utilize technologies that will allow us to recycle water for irrigation purposes in order to preserve our natural supply of drinking water."
Senator Akaka also authored P.L. 106-566, the Hawaii Water Resources Act of 2000, which directed the Bureau of Reclamation to survey irrigation and water delivery systems in Hawaii. The 2000 law instructs the Bureau to identify new opportunities for reclamation and reuse of water and wastewater for agriculture and non-agricultural purposes. It also includes Hawaii in the Bureau of Reclamation's wastewater reclamation program and extends drought relief programs to Hawaii.
S. 960 will be received in the House of Representatives where Representative Neil Abercrombie (D-HI) has introduced companion legislation (H.R. 2355).
