12 Navy water users attribute symptoms to tap water

BY Spectrum News Staff Honolulu

UPDATED 6:25 PM ET Oct. 23, 2023 PUBLISHED 4:32 PM ET Oct. 21, 2023 PUBLISHED 4:32 PM EDT Oct. 21, 2023

HONOLULU — The Hawaii Department of Health reports they were informed on Wednesday night of 12 customers, who use the Navy water system, attributing symptoms they were experiencing to exposure to tap water, according to a DOH news release.

What You Need To Know

On Thursday, DOH staff contacted six individuals to learn more and received permission from five individuals to conduct onsite inspections in the evening

A Photoionization Detector that indicates petroleum byproducts did not detect volatile organic compounds, according to the release

With the homeowner’s permission, the Navy collected water samples for additional testing with DOH oversight

Rapid screening tests of the Waiawa Shaft on Oct. 19 did not detect petroleum, but the Navy is expediting additional lab tests

As the DOH continues to oversee the Navy’s water distribution system, they acted immediately in coordination with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Six of the 12 individuals provided contact information to regulators.

On Thursday, DOH staff contacted the six individuals to learn more and received permission from five individuals to conduct onsite inspections in the evening. They did not detect a sheen or odor in the drinking water from any of the households. A Photoionization Detector that indicates petroleum byproducts did not detect volatile organic compounds, according to the release.

With the homeowner’s permission, the Navy collected water samples for additional testing with DOH oversight.

The Navy water distribution system’s water source, Waiawa Shaft, did now show any petroleum when it was tested back in July. DOH had the Navy test the Waiawa Shaft again on Oct. 19. Rapid screening tests did not detect petroleum, but the Navy is expediting additional lab tests.

The DOH is also continuing to oversee execution of the Long-Term Monitoring Plan that was established after the Nov. 2021 contamination of the water system.

According to DOH, the Navy’s public water systems currently meet all federal and state drinking water standards that include the "incident specific parameters" established under the Interagency Drinking Water System Team. Visit the JBPHH Safe Waters website for test results conducted under the Long-Term Monitoring Plan.

Although no evidence currently supports a change in the water quality of the Navy water distribution system per DOH, users should report water quality concerns to: