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Red Hill water crisis

Red Hill water crisis
Interior of the Red Hill Underground Fuel Storage Facility in 2016
DateNovember 20, 2021 – present (2021-11-20 – present)
LocationJoint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam and urban Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, U.S.
Coordinates21°22′26″N 157°53′38″W / 21.37389°N 157.89389°W / 21.37389; -157.89389
TypeGroundwater contamination (various petroleum products)

The Red Hill water crisis is a public health crisis and environmental disaster caused by fuel leaking from the Red Hill Underground Fuel Storage Facility into the freshwater aquifer underneath the island of Oʻahu.[1] Residents in military housing in and around Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam began reporting chemical contamination in their tap water near the end of November 2021, and the Hawaiʻi Department of Health advised residents to stop using their tap water on November 29, 2021.[2][3] All residents of the area (not just military housing) were unable to use their tap water until the following March, after their water system was flushed of contaminants.[4][5]

The fuel spill from the Red Hill facility also forced the shutdown of several water sources operated by the Honolulu Board of Water Supply that provided drinking water for urban Honolulu.[6][7] Due to uncertainty about the spread of fuel contamination underground, these water sources will remain shut down indefinitely, which has caused a shortage of water for Honolulu residents.[8][9][10] Voluntary water usage reductions were announced on March 10, 2022, and compliance has avoided the imposition of mandatory water restrictions as of May 2022.[11][12][13]

  1. ^ Jedra, Christina (January 11, 2022). "Navy Agrees To Comply With Hawaii's Order To Drain Red Hill Fuel Facility". Honolulu Civil Beat. Archived from the original on January 20, 2022. Retrieved January 20, 2022.
  2. ^ Jedra, Christina (November 29, 2021). "State Tells Pearl Harbor Navy Families Not To Drink Or Use Tap Water". Honolulu Civil Beat. Archived from the original on January 22, 2022. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  3. ^ Richardson, Mahealani (November 30, 2021). "A military family invited us in to see (and smell) their water firsthand. Here's what we saw". Hawaii News Now. Archived from the original on January 22, 2022. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  4. ^ Olson, Wyatt (March 19, 2022). "Safe water restored to all Hawaii homes contaminated by Navy jet fuel, health officials say". Stars and Stripes. Archived from the original on April 12, 2022. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  5. ^ Lau, Joel (March 18, 2022). "Final Red Hill Families Are Cleared To Return Home". Honolulu Civil Beat. Archived from the original on May 16, 2022. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  6. ^ "Well that delivers 20% of Honolulu's water supply shut down to protect against contamination". Hawaii News Now. December 3, 2021. Archived from the original on February 1, 2022. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  7. ^ Jedra, Christina (April 4, 2022). "Where Is The Red Hill Contamination Moving? Experts Are 'Working Blind'". Honolulu Civil Beat. Archived from the original on April 11, 2022. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  8. ^ Shinno, Stephanie; Morales, Manolo (December 13, 2021). "BWS says test results for Halawa Shaft show no contamination but the threat remains". KHON2. Archived from the original on February 15, 2022. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
  9. ^ Jedra, Christina (March 21, 2022). "The Navy Water Crisis Could Halt New Construction On Oahu". Honolulu Civil Beat. Archived from the original on April 11, 2022. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  10. ^ Hurley, Timothy (April 10, 2022). "Hot, dry summer could bring mandatory water restrictions on Oahu". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. ProQuest 2648683908. Archived from the original on April 12, 2022. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  11. ^ Richardson, Mahealani (April 25, 2022). "With water restrictions possible, BWS eyes worsening drought with concern". Hawaii News Now. Archived from the original on May 16, 2022. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
  12. ^ Blair, Allyson (May 12, 2022). "BWS scrambles to get wells online in hopes of avoiding mandatory restrictions". Hawaii News Now. Archived from the original on May 16, 2022. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
  13. ^ Richardson, Mahealani (May 24, 2022). "BWS: Mandatory water restrictions this summer now appear avoidable". Hawaii News Now. Archived from the original on May 26, 2022. Retrieved May 26, 2022.

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