Navy reports petroleum contamination at second drinking water source at Hawaii base
The Navy has reported a second case of petroleum contamination in a drinking water source at its Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam site in Hawaii, raising concerns from health officials.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Hawaii Department of Health said the Navy had identified diesel fuel levels more than double the department's limits for drinking water at the Aiea Halawa Shaft.
The shaft is one of three ground water sources providing drinking water to the Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam water system, which includes water distributed to military families.
“The level of this contaminant poses a public health threat, and is considered unsafe to drink,” Kathleen Ho, deputy director for environmental health, said in a statement.
Ho said the development was "concerning — especially as the cause of the petroleum release into the Navy’s water system remains unknown.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/navy-reports-petroleum-contamination-second-drinking-water-source-hawa-rcna8168