Hawaii officials call for independent review of Oahu water crisis amid disputes by state, Navy

By: Alfred Acenas
EBC Hawaii-Pacific


PEARL HARBOR (Eagle News) –There are calls for an independent investigation into the water contamination crisis in and around Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam.

U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), along with fellow congressional delegates and Hawaii Governor David Ige, have been urging the Environmental Protection Agency to conduct its own probe into the crisis which began on November 28.

It has affected nearly 100,000 residents on the island of Oahu.

“The EPA must be the lead agency in the collection, testing, analysis, and public communication for water quality of the Navy’s water system. EPA must take a more active role in addressing this crisis,” Schatz said. “We can’t afford another day of the Navy and state and county agencies disagreeing on the basic question of whether the drinking water is safe. We need a trusted independent agency with deep expertise and a mission of environmental protection to take over.”

EPA administrator Michael Regan acknowledged the situation through social media as early as Tuesday, December 7. 

He offered assurances his agency has deployed emergency response experts to assist the State’s Department of Health and the U.S. Navy to ensure all Hawaii residents receive safe, clean drinking water.

The senator’s statement comes as the Navy and local government entities questioned each other’s findings and actions after conducting their own assessments.

According to the Health Department, the Navy drew water samples from its Aiea-Halawa Shaft facility on December 5 and reported a level of 920 parts per billion of total petroleum hydrocarbons diesel range organics. That is more than double Hawaii’s Environmental Action Level of 400 parts per billion, the maximum level at which no human health effects are expected.

“The level of this contaminant poses a public health threat and is considered unsafe to drink,” said Kathleen Ho, Deputy Director for Environmental Health for the state health department. “This news is concerning, especially as the cause of the petroleum release into the Navy’s water system remains unknown. We will continue to take all possible action to protect public health and the environment.”

However, the Navy clarified that the elevated levels did not come directly from the Navy’s Aiea-Halawa well but instead from an off-service section of its own water distribution system. Officials stated the well had not been used since December 3, and a sample from that day indicated the water was safe.

To date, the Navy has collected over 100 samples throughout its distribution network. These samples continue to be shipped off-island to certified laboratories for analysis.

So far, 84 samples have returned, all confirming zero presence of petroleum products at or near EPA or Hawaii health department limits.

The apparent disagreement between military and state entities has caused frustration for Honolulu’s Board of Water Supply, which had to shut down the Aiea and Halawa wells as a precautionary measure after learning about the Navy’s findings.

“This situation is not acceptable, and our system to our residents is now being put under more stress.” said water board manager Ernest Lau. “I am deeply troubled, and we have requested all pumpage and test data from the Department of Health on the Red Hill Shaft and the Aiea-Halawa Shaft. We need to have this data in order to make solid and informed decisions regarding our system so we can continue to service our customers.”
(Eagle News Service)