WAIPAHU, Hawaii — The Board of Water Supply found low levels of “forever chemicals” in the Waipio Heights Wells Pumping Station, which serves the Waipio Crestview area between Lumikula Street to Lumi Street, officials said.

What You Need To Know

  • Low levels of PFAS were detected in water samples at the Waipio Heights Wells Pumping Station

  • PFAS can be harmful to human health

  • The chemicals were found at levels below the EPA's threshold

  • This year, the DOH also reported PFAS were detected in the Waipahu-Ewa-Waianae and Kunia Village water systems

Samples taken by the BWS in February showed various perfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS or “forever chemicals” because they can take hundreds of years to naturally degrade, according to Catherine Pirkle, a University of Hawaii at Manoa Office of Public Health Studies associate professor. The human-made chemicals have been in use for more than 60 years and are commonly used in non-stick cookware, stain-repellant carpets and furniture, water-repellent clothing, food packaging and fire-fighting foam. The chemicals are known to cause health problems and have been linked to cancer, reproductive issues and immunotoxicity.

In the Waipio Heights Wells Pumping Station, the samples tested for perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA) and perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS).

These chemicals were found at levels of 1.7 to 3 nanograms per liter. 

Last week, the Environmental Protection Agency proposed limits to “forever chemicals” in drinking water, a long-awaited protection the agency said would save thousands of lives. The EPA’s threshold was set at 4 nanograms per liter for the chemicals PFOA and PFOS.  

“Based on existing Hawaii Department of Health environmental action levels and drinking water standards for PFOS proposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the levels at Waipio Heights Wells pose no significant health concerns,” the BWS said in a news release. 

The BWS found the chemicals as part of its PFAS testing program. 

In January, low levels of “forever chemicals” were found in water samples taken from the Kunia Village water system and the Waipahu-Ewa-Waianae water system. The following month, the chemicals were detected at the Board of Water Supply’s Makakilo Well.

Samples taken by the Navy from soil near the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility, where 1,100 gallons of aqueous film forming foam were spilled on Nov. 29, 2022, contained PFAS over DOH's environmental action levels. 

Michelle Broder Van Dyke covers the Hawaiian Islands for Spectrum News Hawaii. Email her at michelle.brodervandyke@charter.com.