Bill > HB379

This bill addresses environmental protection by requiring newly installed or modified individual wastewater systems located within 200 feet of a shoreline to have denitrification capacity. The legislation is motivated by the need to protect Hawaii's nearshore waters, coral reef ecosystems, and public health, drawing on a 2023 scientific study that found coral reefs are better able to recover from ocean-warming events when protected from land-based pollutants. Specifically, the bill mandates that these wastewater systems must be certified to meet the National Sanitation Foundation and American National Standards Institute (NSF/ANSI) standard 245 for on-site residential wastewater treatment, which ensures the system can effectively reduce nitrogen levels. Denitrification is a process that removes nitrogen compounds from wastewater, which can be harmful to marine ecosystems when discharged near coastal areas. The bill aims to improve water quality and support the resilience of Hawaii's marine environments by implementing these stringent wastewater treatment requirements for properties near the shoreline, with the new regulations set to take effect on July 1, 3000.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Business and Industry

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=379&year=2025