Summary of Hawai'i's Water Reuse Guideline or Regulation for Impoundments

This page is part of the EPA’s REUSExplorer tool, which summarizes the different state level regulations or guidelines for water reuse for a variety of sources and end-uses.
The source water for this summary is Treated Municipal Wastewater.

• Technical basis
• Water reuse for impoundments approved for use in Hawai'i
• Water reuse treatment category for impoundments
• Additional context and definitions
• Water reuse for impoundments specifications (table)
• Upcoming state law or policy
• References
• Disclaimer

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This page is a summary of the state’s water reuse law or policy and is provided for informational purposes only. Please always refer to the state for the most accurate and updated information. 

In Hawai'i, water reused for impoundments impoundmentsThe use of recycled water in an impoundment (body of water within an enclosure). This includes both unrestricted (use of reclaimed water in an impoundment in which no limitations are imposed on body-contact water recreation activities) and restricted (use of reclaimed water in an impoundment where body contact is restricted). Includes recreational impoundments, aesthetic impoundments, and ornamental impoundments with and without public access. Excludes landscape impoundments and storage of recycled water intended for other specific reuse applications (e.g., for agricultural irrigation). include restricted rectational impoundments, fish hatchery basins and impoundments with or without fountains or other water features. The source of water (treated municipal wastewater) treated municipal wastewater Treated wastewater effluent discharged from a centralized wastewater treatment plant of any size. Other terms referring to this source of water include domestic wastewater, treated wastewater effluent, reclaimed water, and treated sewage. is specified by the state as municipal wastewater. The write-up below uses state terms when discussing sources or uses of water that may differ from the Regulations and End-Use Specifications Explorer's (REUSExplorer's) terms.

Technical basis

Hawai'i approves the use of municipal wastewater for impoundments for non-body-contact recreation and other uses. All applicable provisions of the Clean Water Act (CWA) (33 U.S.C. §§ 1251 et seq.), including its implementing regulations, must be met in addition to any state water quality standards. Restricted recreational impoundments with fountains or other water features that generate spray or mist have more stringent performance standards than impoundments without fountains or water features that generate spray or mist. Treatment requirements and performance standards are applied for the removal of microbial contaminants, chemicals and other relevant indicators related to impoundments and are summarized in the table. The technical basis for developing the specifications and/or removals of microbial contaminants, chemicals and other relevant indicators is not explicitly specified.

Water reuse for impoundments approved for use in Hawai'i

Haw. Code R. § 11-62 defines the following approved water reuse for impoundments:

• Restricted recreational impoundments and fish hatchery basins, including impoundments with fountains or any other water features that generate spray or mist (R-1)
• Impoundments without fountains or any other water features that generate spray or mist (R-2)

Water reuse treatment category for impoundments

The various classes of recycled water are defined by their level of treatment.

• For R-1 recycled water, wastewater must be oxidized, filtered and disinfected (Haw. Code R. § 11-62). The limits specified in the table are set based on system size. Filtration standards are based on the specific technology used. 
• For R-2 recycled water, wastewater must be oxidized and disinfected (Haw. Code R. § 11-62). The limits specified in the table are set based on system size. 

Additional context and definitions

Hawai'i Administrative Rules direct that the Guidelines for the Treatment and Use of Recycled Water (referred to as the Reuse Guidelines), which contain specifications for approved end uses, be used for all decisions pertaining to recycled water. Hawai'i defines recycled water as “treated wastewater that by design is intended or used for a beneficial purpose” (Haw. Code R. § 11-62). A “restricted recreational impoundment” is defined as “a body of recycled water in which recreation is limited to fishing, boating, and other non-body-contact water recreational activities” (Hawai'i DOH 2016b).

"Storage" when pertaining to water can consist of two types: open water storage and closed water storage (Hawai'i DOH 2016b). Open water storage is defined as aboveground water storage exposed to the atmosphere, including ponds and open tanks (Hawai'i DOH 2016b). Closed water storage is defined as water storage that is not exposed to the atmosphere, including enclosed underground and aboveground units (Hawai'i DOH 2016b).

Components of recycled water systems such as piping, valves, valve covers, etc., must be identified to distinguish them from potable water systems, preferably by being purple in color (Pantone 512 or equal). Where color identification is not feasible, components should be labeled with the words “Recycled Water,” “Recycled Water – Do Not Drink,” or similar (Hawai'i DOH 2016b). Signage must also be posted with both written and pictorial warnings that indicate the quality of the recycled water, its end use and an appropriate warning against human consumption and/or what to do if contact occurs. Signs must be posted in clear view of the public along the border of and within the use area with a recommended maximum spacing of 250 feet between signs. For impoundments, warning signs must be placed around the perimeter with pictorial warnings against drinking, wading, swimming or other bodily contact.

Water reuse for impoundments reuse specifications

Summary of Hawai'i's Water Reuse for Impoundments Specifications

Source= Haw. Code R. § 11-62, Hawai'i DOH 2016a

* Information about sampling and monitoring requirements such as frequency, site and quantification methods not specifically listed in the table was not explicitly specified in the State-specific regulations.

^a Where chlorination is used for disinfection.

^b Where UV is used for disinfection. The minimal acceptable design requirements and commissioning of new UV disinfection systems shall comply with the latest Ultraviolet Disinfection Guidelines for Drinking Water and Water Reuse prepared by the National Water Research Institute and Water Research Foundation that has been accepted for use by the Hawai'i Department of Health; a UV system that is Title 22 certified by California is also acceptable.

^c When an alternate disinfection process is used, the applicant must show to the satisfaction of the Department of Health that the process results are comparable to those achieved by chlorination.

^d Criteria for disinfection by a method other than chlorination or UV, when combined with filtration. Only one criterion needs to be demonstrated.

Upcoming state law or policy

No upcoming reuse regulations related to impoundments were found for Hawai'i.

References

Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. §§ 1251 et seq.

Haw. Code R. § 11-62. Wastewater Systems.

Hawai'i State DOH Wastewater Branch. 2016a. Reuse Guidelines Volume 1: Recycled Water Facilities.

Hawai'i State DOH Wastewater Branch. 2016b. Reuse Guidelines Volume 2: Recycled Water Projects.
 

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Disclaimers

Please contact us at waterreuse@epa.gov if the information on this page needs updating or if this state is updating or planning to update its laws and policies and we have not included that information on the news page.