Moanalua-Waimalu Aquifer at Red Hill

red hill

Protecting Oahu's Groundwater Aquifer

The Board of Water Supply remains steadfast in our commitment to providing safe, dependable and affordable water for Oahu's needs today and in the future, including taking a strong stance when protecting our groundwater aquifers.

Learn More

In January 2014, the U.S. Navy reported a 27,000 gallon leak of jet fuel from Tank 5 at its Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility. This underground storage tank (UST) – along with 19 others like it in the Red Hill area – is able to contain up to 12.5 million gallons of fuel for the U.S. Navy. These tanks are located 100 feet above the Moanalua-Waimalu groundwater aquifer, which the BWS uses to provide water to residents from Moanalua to Hawaii Kai.

To protect the aquifer's long-term ability to provide safe drinking water, the BWS urges the Navy, EPA, and Hawaii DOH to:

  • double line the tanks. If not, then relocate away from the potable water aquifer; meet the same regulatory requirements as all other USTs; and
  • clean up the fuel that is already underneath the tanks to reduce the long-term threat to other wells in the area.

BWS Updates

BWS posts news and updates on its website, including updates from public meetings to materials such as the Administrative Order on Consent (AOC) and Scope of Work (SOW).

News related to the Red Hill facility, and progress on work related the AOC and/or underground storage tanks also may be found online through the project websites maintained by the participating regulatory agencies: the U.S. EPA, U.S. Navy, and the Hawaii DOH.

RED HILL SURVEY
- Tell Us What You Think

QUICK LINKS

RED HILL PROJECT WEBSITES

UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANKS (UST)

Take Action

Help the BWS to keep our drinking water safe by staying informed and doing your part to keep this issue top of mind.

  • READ THE AOC & SOW for the Red Hill project: www.epa.gov/red-hill/red-hill-administrative-order-consent. 
  • STAY CURRENT on news and updates about Red Hill on the BWS, EPA and DOH websites.
  • ATTEND PUBLIC MEETINGS about issues related to Red Hill. 
  • VOICE YOUR CONCERNS about protecting our groundwater resources.
  • SHARE UPDATES about Red Hill and initiatives to protect Oahu's drinking water family and friends.
  • CONTACT YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS and let them know you are concerned about Red Hill and that you support efforts to protect Oahu’s groundwater resources. 

Tell Us What You Think


Red Hill Project Coordinators


Hawaii Department of Health
Solid & Hazardous Waste Branch
2827 Waimano Home Road #100
Pearl City HI 96782
(808) 586-4226
roxanne.kwan@doh.hawaii.gov

Environmental Protection Agency
Region 9
Tank Program Office
75 Hawthorne Street (LND-4-3)
San Francisco CA 94105
(415) 947-3538
linder.steven@epa.gov

Navy Region Hawaii
Navy Facilities Hawaii
Red Hill Program Director
1942 Gaffney Street,Suite 100
Bldg 1757, 2nd Floor
JBPHH HI 96860-4549
(808) 473-7806
darrel.e.frame@navy.mil


Subject Matter Expert


Honolulu Board of Water Supply
630 South Beretania Street
Honolulu HI 96843
(808) 748-5041
contactus@hbws.org


Your Elected Officials


U.S. Congress
- U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono
- U.S. Senator Brian Schatz
- Congressman Ed Case
- Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard

State of Hawaii
- Governor David Ige
- Lt. Governor Josh Green
- State Representatives
- State Senators

City & County of Honolulu
- Honolulu Mayor's Office
- City Council Members
Updated: 08/12/2020