Relating To Water Conservation.
SB1239 would prohibit the use of potable water for golf course irrigation, maintenance, or operation, except for human consumption. The bill is framed as a water conservation measure intended to preserve potable water for essential uses and encourage reliance on nonpotable sources such as recycled water or certain groundwater supplies for golf course needs.
The measure also adds definitions for “potable water” and “surface water” to Hawaii’s water statutes and directs county water service providers, in consultation with the Department of Land and Natural Resources, to establish standards and rules for the distribution and use of nonpotable water for golf course irrigation. The bill allows the department to exempt a golf course operator in limited circumstances, including threats to water quality or public health and safety, lack of reasonably available nonpotable water, or serious threats to existing permitted ground or surface water uses.
In addition, SB1239 amends the powers and duties of the Commission on Water Resource Management to explicitly include planning and coordinating programs for the development, conservation, protection, control, and regulation of water resources, including nonpotable water. The bill would therefore affect state water management policy by strengthening the statutory emphasis on nonpotable water use and by creating a specific regulatory framework for golf course irrigation.
The overall sentiment reflected in the bill text is strongly conservation-oriented, with the legislature finding that more must be done to ensure potable water is reserved for potable purposes. Because there are no committee transcripts or recorded votes provided, there is no documented debate or opposition in the supplied materials, but the structure of the bill suggests a policy preference for limiting discretionary potable water use while preserving agency flexibility through exemptions.
The main points of potential contention are likely to be the practical availability and cost of nonpotable water, the burden on golf course operators to convert irrigation systems, and the scope of the exemptions. The bill also leaves room for disputes over what qualifies as a sufficient threat to water quality, public health, or existing water rights, and over how quickly counties can establish the required standards and rules.
SB1239 would amend Hawaii’s water code, particularly chapter 342D and section 174C-5 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes, by creating a new prohibition on potable water use for golf course irrigation and by defining potable water in statute. It would require county water service providers to adopt rules for nonpotable water use on golf courses and would expand the Commission on Water Resource Management’s statutory role to include planning and coordination for nonpotable water conservation and regulation. Golf course operators, county water agencies, and the Department of Land and Natural Resources would be directly affected, while the bill would also influence water allocation and conservation practices statewide.
The bill’s tone and stated purpose indicate clear support for water conservation and for prioritizing potable water for essential uses. The available materials do not include committee testimony or votes, so there is no recorded public sentiment in the provided record; however, the bill itself reflects a policy consensus favoring tighter controls on potable water use in nonessential applications, with limited exemptions to address feasibility and safety concerns.
Likely areas of contention include whether golf courses can realistically obtain sufficient nonpotable water, the cost and infrastructure needed to switch irrigation sources, and the impact on existing water users and rights. The exemption process may also be disputed, especially the standards for finding threats to public health, water quality, or pre-existing permitted ground or surface water uses. Counties and water providers may face implementation challenges in setting rules and ensuring nonpotable water is available and safe.