Testing revealed low levels of “forever chemicals” in a well that supplies water to the Pearl City area on Oahu.
The Honolulu Board of Water Supply owns the Pearl City Wells I Pump #2, which is on the corner of Waimano Home Road and Wahinani Street, where low levels of PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances) were detected.
The Hawaii Department of Health said in a news release that detections of Perfluorooctane Sulfonic Acid (PFOS) ranged from 2.2 to 2.4 nanograms per liter. PFOS are one of the PFAS regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which set a “Maximum Contaminant Level” for PFOS of 4 ng/L in drinking water. According to the DOH, this means the chemicals “are unlikely to pose a public health risk.”
The BWS detected these chemicals as part of its PFAS testing program. Samples from the Pearl City Wells I Pump #2 were collected on Sept. 9 and 15. The BWS notified the state DOH of the initial detection of PFAS via email on Sept. 30.
PFAS are often referred to as ‘forever chemicals’ because they persist in the environment for hundreds of years, making them difficult to remove from water systems. These human-made substances have been used for over 60 years in products like non-stick cookware, stain-repellent carpets, water-resistant clothing, food packaging and firefighting foam. PFAS cause serious health problems and have been linked to cancer, reproductive issues and immunotoxicity…