Red Hill Water Information

To protect public health and the environment for all of Hawai‘i, DOH maintains this page to provide information related to the U.S. Navy’s Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility.

News Regulatory Updates Orders, Plans, & Letters Testing /Health Survey Resource Media Library

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Please report issues Online Here or contact DOH’s Safe Drinking Water Branch at (808) 586-4258 or by Email.
  > FAQ Navy Water Contamination

NEWS – PRESS RELEASES

October 7, 2024 | DOH Hosts Red Hill Open House, FTAC Meeting on October 8 and 9, 2024

May 30, 2024 | DOH Conditionally Approves Red Hill Air Quality Monitoring Plan



May 22, 2024 | DOH Releases Findings of Independent Forensic Investigation of Navy Water System

April 30, 2024 | DOH Rejects Red Hill Consolidated Groundwater Sampling Plan

March 5, 2024 | DOH Hosting FTAC Meeting

November 14, 2023 | DOH to Host FTAC Meeting on November 15

October 10, 2023 | DOH Conditionally Approves Defueling of Red Hill Tanks

August 28, 2023 | DOH Conditionally Approves Red Hill Repairs, Repacking Plan

July 12, 2023 | DOH Conditionally Approves Defueling of Red Hill Surge Tanks 

June 24, 2023 | DOH Conditionally Approves Red Hill Defueling Plan

June 24, 2023 | DOH Publishes Red Hill Exposure Assessment

June 2, 2023 | DOH to Host Red Hill Open House, FTAC Meeting June 5 and 6, 2023

May 31, 2023 | Flyer for June 5, 2023 DOH Red Hill Open House

May 16, 2023 | DOH to review updated Red Hill Defueling Plan

May 5, 2023 | DOH Statement on release of Department of Defense’s AFFF Spill Investigation

January 27, 2023 | DOH releases soil data from AFFF release at Red Hill

January 17, 2023 | DOH to participate in Red Hill open house

December 2, 2022 | Red Hill AFFF fire suppressant spill – Dec. 2 update

November 30, 2022 | Red Hill AFFF fire suppressant spill – Nov. 30 update

November 29, 2022 | DOH investigating Red Hill AFFF fire suppressant spill

October 7, 2022 | DOH conditionally approves first phase of Red Hill refueling

September 7, 2022 | DOH releases updated Red Hill defueling plan

September 2, 2022 | Navy water system users encouraged to participate in follow-up health impact survey

July 26, 2022 | DOH disapproves DOD’s Red Hill defueling plan

June 30, 2022 | DOH releases Red Hill defueling plan, command investigation

June 29, 2022 | DOH Red Hill Status Report #4

May 27, 2022 | DOH: Contractor’s report on Red Hill defueling outlines extensive, critical repairs

May 26, 2022 | DOH, CDC/ATSDR Red Hill survey results assess health effects of contamination

May 19, 2022 | DOH Red Hill Status Report #3

May 9, 2022 | Navy waives right to contest DOH Red Hill Emergency Order

May 4, 2022 | DOH Red Hill Status Report #2

April 22, 2022 | DOH statement on Navy’s dismissal of Red Hill appeals

April 20, 2022 | DOH Red Hill Status Report #1

April 1, 2022 | DOH investigating Red Hill release of fuel and water mixture

March 18, 2022 | DOH declares four Navy drinking water distribution system zones safe

March 13, 2022 | DOH declares Navy drinking water distribution system Zones A3 & D2 safe

March 11, 2022 | DOH declares Navy drinking water distribution system Zones F1, F2, H2 & H3 safe

March 8, 2022 | DOH declares Navy drinking water distribution system Zones D4 & E1 safe

March 7, 2022 | Statement on Department of Defense decision to defuel and permanently close Red Hill fuel storage facility

March 3, 2022 | DOH declares Navy drinking water distribution system Zones B1, G1, H1 safe

March 1, 2022 | DOH declares Navy drinking water distribution system Zones A2, D1, Manana Housing safe

February 28, 2022 | Navy in non-compliance with DOH Red Hill Emergency Order

February 23, 2022 | DOH declares Navy drinking water distribution system Zone A1 safe

February 14, 2022 | DOH declares Navy drinking water distribution system Zone I1 safe

February 2, 2022 | DOH statement on Navy appeal of Red Hill emergency order

January 31, 2022 | DOH statement on Navy’s intent to appeal Red Hill emergency order

January 27, 2022 | DOH grants permit to Navy to remove fuel contamination from Red Hill Shaft

January 25, 2022 | DOH releases updated Red Hill groundwater monitoring results

January 14, 2022 | DOH releases validated result of December Aliamanu Military Reservation system flush

January 11, 2022 | DOH/CDC Health survey expanded to include all Navy Water System users

January 4, 2022 | Survey of civilians affected by Navy water system contamination to begin Jan. 4

January 3, 2022 | DOH Upholds Hearings Officer’s Recommendation on Red Hill Emergency Order

December 17, 2021 | Hawai‘i DOH, Navy, Army, and EPA establish Interagency Drinking Water System Team, sign water sampling plan

December 16, 2021 | Red Hill emergency order evidentiary hearing scheduled for Monday

December 15, 2021 | Hawai‘i Department of Health releases 27 new Navy Water System test results 

December 10, 2021 | Hawai’i Department of Health confirms high levels of petroleum contamination in Navy’s Red Hill Shaft 

December 8, 2021 | Petroleum contamination reported in Navy’s Aiea Halawa shaft 

December 7, 2021 | Hawai‘i Department of Health orders Navy to suspend operations

December 3, 2021 | DOH receives initial results from Navy water system tests

December 1, 2021 | Preliminary results detect petroleum product in Navy water system

November 30, 2021 | Hawai‘i Department of Health advises Navy water system consumers not to drink, consume tap water 

REGULATORY UPDATES

AFFF Release 11/29/22 (HEER Incident Case No. 20221129-1438)
Defueling Phase *Completed* - DOH 2022 Emergency Order
    • Maintain the suspension of operations as previously directed by the First EO” and 
    • [S]ubmit to the Department a phased plan for defueling and permanently closing the Red Hill Facility . . . to achieve the completion of defueling at the earliest date consistent with the safe defueling of the Facility.” Navy submitted a Defueling Plan on June 30, 2022, which DOH disapproved. After several supplements to the Defueling Plan and JTF responses to DOH comments (available below), DOH conditionally approved defueling on October 10, 2023. 
  • Before defueling began, over 300 repairs and enhancements were required to be completed by JTF, reviewed by a third-party quality validator (QV), and approved by DOH. The QV plan, third-party QV reports, and DOH’s comments and conditional approvals are available below. 
  • On March 6, 2024, JTF completed defueling with DOH oversight, roughly 6 months ahead of the original Defueling Plan schedule. 104,703,574 gallons of fuel were safely removed from the facility. DOH comments and conditional approvals associated with each phase of defueling – pipeline repacking, gravity defueling (surge tanks, tank mains, tank bottoms, and unpacking), and non-destructive residual fuel removal – are available below. 

Defueling Documents

3/27/2024 – DOH Concurrence on JTF Defueling Obligation Completed

1/30/2024 – DOH No Further Comments on Defueling Plan Supp. 3

1/24/2024 – DOH Conditional Approval of Repair No. INC 025 Revised QV Report

1/18/2024 – JTF Defueling Repair No. INC 025 QV Report

1/4/2024 – DOH Conditional Approval of Non-Destructive Residual Fuel Removal

1/3/2024 – DOH Conditional Approval of Repair No. DEF 002 QV Report

12/29/2023 – JTF Defueling Repair No. DEF 002 QV Report 

12/4/2023 – DOH Final Unpacking Plan Conditional Approval

11/27/2023 – DOH Concurrence with Accelerated Defueling Schedule

11/14/2023 – DOH Conditional Approval of Repair No. DEF 001 QV Report 

11/14/2023 – Defueling Plan Supplement 3

11/3/2023 – JTF Defueling Repair No. DEF 001 QV Report 

10/10/2023 – DOH Conditional Approval of Defueling Tank Mains and Bottoms

9/25/2023 – DOH Conditional Approval of September Repair QV Report

9/19/2023 – JTF September Repair QV Report

9/12/2023 – DOH Conditional Approval of August (3 of 3) Repair QV Reports

9/4/2023 – DOH Response to Repacking Repair QV Report (No. 84 Rev. 1)

9/2/2023 – JTF Repacking Repair QV Report (No. 84 Rev. 1)

8/24/2023 – DOH Conditional Approval of Repacking

8/24/2023 – DOH Conditional Approval of August (2 of 3) Repair QV Reports

8/23/2023 – DOH Response to JTF Request to Temporarily Defer Select Repairs

8/23/2023 – JTF August (3 of 3) Repair QV Reports

8/21/2023 – DOH Conditional Approval of August (1 of 3) Repair QV Reports

8/11/2023 – JTF August (2 of 3) Repair QV Reports

8/7/2023 – DOH Conditional Approval of June (2 of 3) Repair QV Reports

8/4/2023 – DOH Response to JTF May 31, 2023 Letter on Surge Analysis

8/4/2023 – DOH Conditional Approval of June (3 of 3) Repair QV Reports

8/4/2023 – JTF August (1 of 3) Repair QV Reports

8/2/2023 – DOH Conditional Approval of July (2 of 4) Repair QV Reports

8/2/2023 – DOH Conditional Approval of July (4 of 4) Repair QV Reports

7/28/2023 – DOH Conditional Approval of July (3 of 4) Repair QV Reports

7/27/2023 – JTF July (4 of 4) Repair QV Reports

7/24/2023 – DOH Response to July (1 of 4) Repair QV Reports

7/20/2023 – JTF July (3 of 4) Repair QV Reports

7/17/2023 – DOH Conditional Approval of April Repair QV Reports

7/17/2023 – JTF July (2 of 4) Repair QV Reports

7/11/2023 – JTF July (1 of 4) Repair QV Reports

7/7/2023 – DOH Conditional Approval of Surge Tank Draining

7/7/2023 – JTF Surge Tank Draining Repair QV Report (No. INC 032)

6/30/2023 – JTF June (3 of 3) Repair QV Reports

6/29/2023 – DOH Conditional Approval of May Repair QV Reports

6/26/2023 – DOH Conditional Approval of June (1 of 3) Repair QV Reports

6/26/2023 – JTF June (2 of 3) Repair QV Reports

6/23/2023 – DOH Defueling Plan Conditional Approval

6/19/2023 – DOH Comments on AFFF Reclamation Line Repair Plan

6/15/2023 – JTF June (1 of 3) Repair QV Reports

6/2/2023 – AFFF Reclamation Line Repair Plan

6/2/2023 – AFFF Reclamation Line Repair Plan, Ref (a)

6/2/2023 – AFFF Reclamation Line Repair Plan, Ref (b)

5/31/2023 – JTF May Repair QV Reports

5/31/2023 – JTF Response to DOH Comments on Surge Analysis

5/16/2023 – Defueling Plan Supplement 2

5/16/2023 – Defueling Plan Supplement 2, Enclosure 1

5/16/2023 – Defueling Plan Supplement 2, Enclosure 2

5/16/2023 – Defueling Plan Supplement 2, Enclosure 3

5/16/2023 – Defueling Plan Supplement 2, Enclosure 4

5/16/2023 – Defueling Plan Supplement 2, Enclosure 5

5/16/2023 – Defueling Plan Supplement 2, Enclosure 6

5/16/2023 – Defueling Plan Supplement 2, Enclosure 7

5/18/2023 – Defueling Plan Supplement 2, Enclosure 8

5/4/2023 – JTF April Repair QV Reports

4/21/2023 – DOH Conditional Approval of Feb. and March 2023 Repair QV Reports

4/14/2023 – JTF March Repair QV Reports

3/24/2023 – DOH Comments on JTF 2/22/2023 Repair Responses

3/23/2023 – JTF February Repair QV Reports

2/22/2023 – JTF Responses to DOH 1/13/2023 Repair Comments

1/27/2023 – DOH Conditional Approval of Third-Party Quality Validation Plan

1/13/2023 – DOH Conditional Approval of 2 Repair/Enhancement List Deviations

11/10/2022 – DOH Third-Party Quality Validation Plan Comments (names redacted by JTF)

11/8/2022 – DOH Repair/Enhancement List Comments (names redacted by JTF)

11/1/2022 – Third-Party Quality Validation Plan

10/27/2022 – Repair/Enhancement List

10/24/2022 – Repair/Enhancement List, Enclosure 1 (Repair/Enhancement List)

10/24/2022 – Repair/Enhancement List, Enclosure 2

10/24/2022 – Repair/Enhancement List, Enclosure 3

10/4/2022 – DOH Unpacking Plan Conditional Approval

9/28/2022 – Defueling Plan Supplement 1.B, with Enclosure 1

9/28/2022 – Defueling Plan Supplement 1.B, Enclosure 2

9/28/2022 – Defueling Plan Supplement 1.B, Enclosure 3

9/28/2022 – Defueling Plan Supplement 1.B, Enclosure 4

9/28/2022 – Defueling Plan Supplement 1.B, Enclosure 5

9/28/2022 – Defueling Plan Supplement 1.B, Enclosure 6

9/27/2022 – Revised Unpacking Plan

9/19/2022 – DOH Unpacking Plan Comments (with Navy responses)

9/7/2022 – Defueling Plan Supplement 1.A

9/7/2022 – Defueling Plan Supplement 1.A, Enclosure a (Unpacking Plan)

9/7/2022 – Defueling Plan Supplement 1.A, Enclosure b

9/7/2022 – Defueling Plan Supplement 1.A, Transmittal 1a (NDAA Report)

9/7/2022 – Defueling Plan Supplement 1.A, Transmittal 1b (NDAA Report)

9/7/2022 – Defueling Plan Supplement 1.A, Transmittal 1c (NDAA Report)

9/7/2022 – Defueling Plan Supplement 1.A, Transmittal 2

9/7/2022 – Defueling Plan Supplement 1.A, Transmittal 2, Attachment A

9/7/2022 – Defueling Plan Supplement 1.A, Transmittal 2, Attachment B

9/7/2022 – Defueling Plan Supplement 1.A, Transmittal 2, Attachment J

9/7/2022 – Defueling Plan Supplement 1.A, Transmittal 2, Attachment K

9/7/2022 – Defueling Plan Supplement 1.A, Transmittal 3

7/22/2022 – DOH Defueling Plan Disapproval

6/30/2022 – Defueling Plan

Closure Phase - DOH 2022 Emergency Order

Closure Plan Documents

9/6/2024 – DOH Conditional Approval of July 2024 Tank Cleaning Verification Plan

9/3/2024 – DOH Site Assessment Pilot Study Work Plan Comments

8/12/2024 – DOH Disapproval of Tank Closure Plan Supplement 3

7/26/2024 – Navy Revised Tank Cleaning Verification Plan, Enclosure 1

7/26/2024 – Navy Revised Tank Cleaning Verification Plan, Enclosure 2

6/28/2024 – Tank Closure Plan Supplement 3 

6/28/2024 – Tank Closure Plan Supplement 3, Enclosure 1 (Site Assessment Work Plan)

6/28/2024 – Tank Closure Plan Supplement 3, Enclosure 2

6/20/2024 – Navy Revised Tank Cleaning Verification Plan, Enclosure 1 (response to DOH comments)

6/20/2024 – Navy Revised Tank Cleaning Verification Plan, Enclosure 2

6/18/2024 – DOH Response to Navy Request to Modify Air Monitoring Reporting Requirements

6/14/2024 – Navy Air Monitoring Plan

6/6/2024 – DOH Revised Tank Cleaning Verification Plan Comments

5/30/2024 – Navy Closure Integrated Master Schedule

5/29/2024 – DOH Conditional Approval to Begin Active Ventilation

5/17/2024 – DOH Response to Navy May 2, 2024 Air Monitoring Letter

5/17/2024 – Navy Revised Tank Cleaning Verification Plan

5/17/2024 – Navy Revised Tank Cleaning Verification Plan, Enclosure 2 (responses to DOH comments)

5/17/2024 – Navy Revised Tank Cleaning Verification Plan, Enclosure 3

5/17/2024 – Navy Revised Tank Cleaning Verification Plan, Enclosure 4

5/14/2024 – DOH Conditional Approval to Begin Tanks 7 & 8 Floatable Residual Fuel Removal

5/9/2024 – DOH Revised Tank Cleaning Verification Plan Comments

5/2/2024 – Navy Letter Regarding Air Monitoring Plan

5/2/2024 – Navy Closure Integrated Master Schedule

4/29/2024 – Navy Responses to EPA Comments on Feb 7, 2024 Tank Cleaning Submission

4/22/2024 – DOH Disapproval of Groundwater Sampling Plan

4/22/2024 – DOH Air Monitoring Plan Expectations

4/15/2024 – Navy Revised Tank Cleaning Verification Plan

4/15/2024 – DOH Response to Site Assessment Scoping Tech Memo

4/12/2024 – Navy Air Monitoring Plan

3/29/2024 – Navy Closure Integrated Master Schedule

3/28/2024 – DOH Reiteration of Air Monitoring Plan Requirement

3/18/2024 – Navy Response to DOH Air Monitoring Plan Requirement

3/12/2024 – DOH Air Monitoring Plan Requirement

3/12/2024 – Navy Response to DOH Disapproval of Tank Cleaning Verification Plan

2/29/2024 – Navy Closure Integrated Master Schedule

2/8/2024 – DOH Disapproval of Tank Cleaning Verification Plan

2/7/2024 – Navy Responses to DOH Tank Cleaning Plan Conditional Approval

1/26/2024 – Navy Closure Integrated Master Schedule

1/18/2024 – DOH Conditional Approval of Tank Cleaning Plan & Comments on Dec 15, 2023 Submission

1/12/2024 – Navy Tank Cleaning Verification Plan

12/19/2023 – DOH Expectations for Closure Site Assessment

12/15/2023 – Navy Responses to DOH Tank Cleaning Plan Comments

12/15/2023 – Navy Responses to EPA Tank Cleaning Plan Comments

11/15/2023 – DOH Response to Tank Cleaning Plan

10/2/2023 – Navy Responses to DOH Supp. 2 Comments

9/8/2023 – DOH Response to Request for Concurrence

7/26/2023 – DOH Tank Closure Plan Supp. 2 Comments

7/14/2023 – Navy Responses to DOH Supp. 1 Comments

7/14/2023 – Navy Responses to DOH Supp. 1 Comments, Enclosure 2

7/14/2023 – Navy Responses to DOH Supp. 1 Comments, Enclosure 3

7/14/2023 – Navy Responses to DOH Supp. 1 Comments, Enclosure 4

5/31/2023 – Tank Closure Plan Supplement 2

5/31/2023 – Tank Closure Plan Supplement 2, Enclosure 1

5/31/2023 – Tank Closure Plan Supplement 2, Enclosure 2

5/31/2023 – Tank Closure Plan Supplement 2, Enclosure 3

5/3/2023 – DOH Closure Plan Disapproval (with Supp. 1 Comments)

3/15/2023 – DOH Alternatives Analysis Comments

2/28/2023 – Tank Closure Plan Supplement 1

2/28/2023 – Tank Closure Plan Supplement 1, Enclosure 1

2/28/2023 – Tank Closure Plan Supplement 1, Enclosure 2

2/28/2023 – Tank Closure Plan Supplement 1, Enclosure 3

2/28/2023 – Tank Closure Plan Supplement 1, Enclosure 4

2/28/2023 – Tank Closure Plan Supplement 1, Enclosure 5

12/22/2022 – Alternatives Analysis

12/22/2022 – Alternatives Analysis, Enclosure 1

12/22/2022 – Alternatives Analysis, Enclosure 2

12/22/2022 – Alternatives Analysis, Enclosure 3

12/22/2022 – Alternatives Analysis, Enclosure 4

1/10/2023 – DOH Tank Closure Plan Comments

11/1/2022 – Tank Closure Plan 

11/1/2022 – Tank Closure Plan, Enclosure 1

11/1/2022 – Tank Closure Plan, Enclosure 2

Long-Term Monitoring of Navy Drinking Water System with contact info
  • DOH continues to oversee the Navy’s long-term drinking water monitoring plan, which requires two years of monitoring of homes, schools, childcare facilities, and other buildings on the Navy water system.
  • For test results within the JBPHH and AMR Distribution, please visit the Navy’s Safe Waters website.
  • Drinking water testing results were from samples collected from November 31, 2021 through December 21, 2021 are available here. These samples were collected in response to water quality complaints and were analyzed by the DOH, State Laboratory Division.
  • The Navy water system call center remains open for any concerns regarding customer water quality. Contact the Navy at:
    • (808) 449-1979
    • (808) 448-3262
    • (808) 448-2557
    • (808) 448-2570
    • (808) 448-2583
Aquifer Monitoring and Recovery
  • Monitoring wells beneath the Red Hill tanks continue to show intermittent elevated levels of fuel contaminants since the May and November 2021 fuel releases.
  • Total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) concentrations at the Red Hill tank farm appear to be declining at most wells.
  • For current TPH environmental action levels (EALs) applicable to JBPHH drinking water and Red Hill Shaft groundwater, view DOH’s April 2022 technical memo. Additional info is available on DOH’s EAL webpage.
  • On February 2, 2023, DOH published a technical memo estimating the nature and magnitude of contaminants in groundwater in the immediate vicinity of Red Hill Shaft. Click here to view the memo.
Red Hill Shaft Filtration and Discharge into Halawa Stream
  • DOH continues to enforce its NPDES permit on the Navy’s granular activated carbon (GAC) water filtration system from Red Hill Shaft and discharge into Halawa Stream.
  • The Navy is required to provide monthly reports on contaminant testing and stream inspections. DOH carefully evaluates the reports for a number of contaminants and environmental impacts.
  • The latest data received from the Navy shows no detections of TPH from GAC discharge and no impacts to Halawa Stream.
  • Download the latest compliance reports here:
JBPHH Nov '21 JP-5 Exposure Assessment (updated 10/2/23)

JBPHH Website – Updates

 DOD Registry Phone 1-800-984-8523

Navy Water Health Advisory Amendments

ORDERS, PLANS, AND DOH LETTERS

8/9/2024 – DOH & EPA Request for Information to BWS Regarding PAHs Detected in ‘Aiea Wells

11/15/2023 – DOH Response to Red Hill Shaft Flow Optimization Study Report

8/9/2023 – DOH Response to Request to Reduce Red Hill Shaft Pumping

6/28/2023 – Groundwater Protection Plan Update, Defueling Revision

5/5/2023 – DOH Request for Information

1/27/2023 – Red Hill Shaft Flow Optimization Work Plan

Location Testing Results

Health Impact Survey

The DOH and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (CDC/ATSDR) conducted a follow-up survey in September 2022 to learn more about the experience of people affected by the petroleum contamination in the U.S. Navy’s Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam drinking water system. See Results

The initial Assessment of Chemical Exposure health impact survey conducted in January and February 2022 had over 2,200 participants. People submitted 2,289 survey responses. See Results

Resource Media Library

Red Hill Clinic
Red Hill Clinic | Makalapa Flyer
Red Hill Clinic | FAQ Website

PFAS
DOH HEER Office | PFAS Website
DOH | Fact Sheet: Actions to Evaluate and Reduce the Risk of PFAS in Hawaii
DOH | Fact Sheet: General PFAS Information

Petroleum Hydrocarbons
DOH | Fact Sheet: Health Effects of Petroleum Hydrocarbons in Water
DOH | Fact Sheet: What Are Petroleum Hydrocarbons? 
DOH Toxicologist | FOR PROVIDERS |Medical Advisory : Drinking Water Petroleum Exposure

Stress 
CDC-ATSDR | Fact Sheet: Are you worried about the water, soil, or air in your community?
CDC-ATSDR | Video: Stress: A Normal Response to Environmental Contamination

Health Survey (Closed)
DOH Public Health Team | Health Assessment of Residents Impacted by Navy Water Contamination