PFAS contamination detected in groundwater system on Hawaiʻi’s most populated island
HONOLULU (UI) — The Honolulu Board of Water Supply (BWS) has detected PFAS chemicals in water samples from the Hōʻaeʻae Wells Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) Treatment Facility, which serves the Waipahu ʻEwa Waiʻanae water system on Oʻahu.
According to the BWS, multiple samples taken between November 20, 2024, and February 14, 2025, confirmed the presence of PFAS, or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. The affected water system supplies communities from ʻEwa Beach to Mākaha, including Kapolei, Nānākuli, and Waiʻanae.
BWS reported the detection to the Hawaiʻi Department of Health (DOH) via email on March 19, 2025.
The tested samples revealed the following PFAS compounds and levels (in nanograms per liter):
- Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA): 2.0–2.2 ng/L
- Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA): 2.0–3.1 ng/L
The EPA has not yet established Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for these particular compounds.
PFAS are a group of synthetic chemicals used in a range of consumer and industrial products since the 1940s, including water-resistant clothing, nonstick cookware, and firefighting foam. These chemicals are known to persist in the environment and may pose health risks.
The report was issued under Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes Section 340E-24(b).
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