News

PFAS traces detected in West Oahu water system

Hawaii News Now · last updated

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) — The Department of Health announced on Monday that traces of PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances) have been detected in water samples at a well treatment facility on Oahu.

The traces were detected in the facility of the Waipahu-Ewa-Waianae water system, which is owned by the Honolulu Board of Water Supply (BWS), and serves the west area of the island of Oahu from Ewa Beach to Makaha, including Kapolei, Nanakuli and Waianae.

Detection of PFAS was confirmed in samples that were collected from November 2024 to February 2025. The BWS notified the DOH via email on Mar. 19.

The Board of Water Supply has notified the Department of Health who sent out a notice Monday afternoon.

The detected PFAS level is listed in the table.(HIDOH)

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), PFAS, which have been used since the 1940s, are fluorinated organic chemicals that have been used extensively in consumer products such as carpets, clothing, fabrics for furniture, paper packaging for food and other materials (cookware), and are designed to be waterproof, stain-resistant or nonstick.

Those who want more information on PFAS can visit the EPA website here, or the state’s DOH website here.

Copyright 2025 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.

View full article

here today, more tomorrow

We’ve launched briefing.center with a focus on the press and media.

And we’ve added Citizen Cartwright, a daily quick-read news summary by veteran Washington journalist Linda Cartwright. We’ve also created a new voting rights knowledge center for Citizen Cartwright subscribers. (You can sign up for a dedicated morning email at citizencartwright.com.)

You can sign up here for full access to press and media and Citizen Cartwright on briefing.center.

You can use briefing.center as the center of your information management, or just one of your tools. We’re happy to discuss your information needs.

Sign up