URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO TAKE ALL ACTION NECESSARY TO REQUIRE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS TO TEST SEWAGE SLUDGE AND ANY OTHER RESIDUAL MATERIAL FOR THE PRESENCE OF PERFLUOROALKYL AND POLYFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES.

This Senate Resolution urges the Hawaii Department of Health to mandate that wastewater treatment plants test sewage sludge and residual materials for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly known as PFAS. The bill specifically targets facilities that reuse treated water for agricultural irrigation, aiming to prevent these "forever chemicals" from entering the food chain through contaminated crops and soil. If PFAS are detected, the resolution requests that the Department of Health prohibit the use of such sludge as fertilizer on land that drains into state waters or floodplains. Additionally, it asks the Department to create new administrative rules for the safe disposal of PFAS-contaminated materials and for the Governor to support these regulatory actions.