[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 63 (Wednesday, April 30, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5607-S5608]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. AKAKA:
  S. 960. A bill to amend the reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater 
Study and Facilities Act to authorize certain projects in the State of 
Hawaii and to amend the Hawaii Water Resources Act of 2000 to modify 
the water resources study; to the Committee on Energy and Natural 
Resources.
  Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce legislation to 
authorize three important water reclamation projects in the State of 
Hawaii. In addition, this bill increases the amount authorized for the 
Federal share of the activities under P.L. 106-566, the Hawaii Water 
Resources Act of 2000.
  The Hawaii Water Resources Act of 2000 was an important first step in 
addressing Hawaii's irrigation and water delivery systems. It allowed 
the Bureau of Reclamation to survey irrigation and water delivery 
systems in Hawaii. It also instructed the Bureau to identify new 
opportunities for reclamation and reuse of water and wastewater for 
agriculture and non-agricultural purposes. In addition, the Act 
included Hawaii in the Bureau of Reclamation's wastewater reclamation 
program and extended drought relief programs to Hawaii. While this was 
an important beginning, more needs to be done, particularly since the 
Honolulu Board of Water Supply predicts that even with improved 
conservation methods, the island of Oahu will run out of potable water 
by 2018. This means that the use rate exceeds the recharge rate and 
Oahu residents and visitors will be ``mining'' for water. Even more 
disconcerting is the fact that Oahu will run out of fresh water by 
2018. It is vitally important for the State of Hawaii to begin working 
on water reclamation projects.

[[Page S5608]]

  This legislation authorizes three water reclamation projects. The 
first project, in Honolulu, 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 second project, in North Kona, 
will address the issue of effluent being discharged into a temporary 
disposal sump from the Kealakehe Wastewater Treatment Plant. The third 
project, in Lahaina, will reduce the use of potable water by extending 
the County of Maui's main recycled water pipeline. The legislation also 
authorizes an additional $1.7 million for the Bureau of Reclamation to 
complete its study of Hawaii's irrigation and water delivery systems. 
This is a challenging task as the Bureau is reviewing the water systems 
in the State.
  I urge my colleagues to support this legislation which is vital to 
the people of Hawaii.
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