The State Department of Health said the water in all areas of the Navy Water Distribution System at Pearl Harbor is safe to drink.
Health officials on Friday gave the final four of the Navy’s 19 water zones the go-ahead, saying tap water is now safe for drinking, cooking and oral hygiene.
These areas are the former Pearl Harbor submarine base, which includes the headquarters of the United States Pacific Fleet; Hale Alii, Marine Barracks and Hospital Point, which includes accommodation for primarily Navy personnel; Pearl Harbor Shipyard; and Earhart Village, which provides housing primarily for Air Force and Army personnel.
This area includes many schools and churches, including the elementary schools of Mokulele and Nimitz, and the Holy Family Catholic Academy.
Hawaii Department of Health
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Residents of these areas will receive an email notifying them that their water is safe to drink. If they moved to temporary accommodation during the crisis, they have two days to return home.
Authorities tested samples from 10% of homes in each of 19 separate areas before the department gave approval for water in those areas. This follows a plan approved by the Department and the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
The department said it would test water in 5% of homes in a given area in the first three months after declaring the water safe to drink. This would follow by testing the water in 10% of homes every six months for the next two years.
Some families expressed concern that testing a small percentage of homes was not enough and said they wanted the water in all homes to be tested.
The health department says he is waiting for more data on two non-residential areas at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam and the Aliamanu Military Reserve before she rules on water safety at those locations.
In a statement, Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro thanked residents for their patience and resilience during the crisis, which began in November 2021 when fuel leaked from the fuel storage facility of Red Hill in a Navy water well and in tap water.
Nearly 6,000 people sought medical treatment for rashes, headaches, nausea and other ailments. Around 4,000 people have spent months living in hotels to get drinking water.
The Navy suspended use of the affected well and spent several months running clean water through its pipes and the pipes of individual homes so families could return.
The Department of Defense announced earlier this month that it would close the nearly 80-year-old fuel storage facility amid an outcry from Hawaii residents and military families.
“I can’t emphasize enough how much I admire the strength of the individuals and families impacted by this crisis,” said Hawaii’s Deputy Director of Environmental Health, Kathleen Ho. “These latest amendments represent months of work to ensure that the 19 flushing areas and Manana Housing have access to drinking water. However, our work is not finished. We will continue rigorous monitoring to protect drinking water, including our aquifer, and hold the Navy accountable for protecting public health and the environment.
Martha Guzman, administrator of the US Environmental Protection Agency, said officials will continue to monitor water quality going forward.
Associated Press reporter Audrey McAvoy contributed to this report.