HI HB322

Requires each county's board or department of water supply to submit a plan to the legislature by January 1, 2013, to provide potable water access to all populated areas within the county.

Mandates counties submit annual progress reports to the legislature at least 20 days before each regular legislative session begins.

Requires counties to apply for and prioritize federal funding through the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Utilities Service before using state or county money to implement water access plans.

Defines "populated area" as geographic areas with greater than a specified number of residents per square mile and "water access" as provision of potable water to residents, not necessarily including individual pipelines to each home.

Addresses water access challenges in rural Hawaii, where 30,000 to 60,000 residents rely on water catchment systems, particularly in Hawaii Island's Puna, Kau, and Hamakua districts.