NEWS & UPDATES
For Immediate Release
January 25, 2025
E. coli Bacteria Found In Board Of Water Supply (BWS) Kunia Wells III, Pump #1
Water is safe to drink. The public was never in any danger.
HONOLULU – The Board of Water Supply has detected E. coli bacteria in BWS Kunia Wells III, pump #1.
What should I do
There is nothing you need to do. Your water continues to be safe to drink. This notice is a public announcement required under Federal and State drinking water regulations.
What Happened?
The Board of Water Supply (BWS) is notifying the public that a raw water sample prior to treatment from BWS Kunia Wells III, pump #1 has tested positive for the presence of E. coli bacteria. As a result, BWS is providing public notice of the finding, as required under the federal Ground Water Rule. The tap water remains safe to drink because the raw water from this source is disinfected with chlorine before it goes to any customers. For this reason, no further action is required by customers. Water from Kunia Wells III, pump #1 serves the area from Waipahu to Mākaha.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Ground Water Rule is a regulatory process aimed at reducing the potential risk of illness caused by microbial contamination in ground water. Under this Rule, utilities must test the ground water sources when coliform is detected in any sample collected from the water system. If E. coli is then detected in a ground water source, the Rule requires the public to be notified. While an E. coli detection is not a rule violation, the Rule still requires that the public be notified of the positive E. coli finding.
On January 23, 2025, BWS detected coliform bacteria in a water sample collected on January 22, 2025, from a routine sampling site at East Kapolei Fire Station. On January 23, 2025, in accordance with the Ground Water Rule, BWS staff collected a repeat sample from the original sampling site at East Kapolei Fire Station and from all sources and all pumps at all stations that were serving East Kapolei Fire Station. Hō’ae’ae Wells, Kunia Wells I, Honouliuli Wells II, Kunia Wells III, and Waipahu Wells IV are the sources that serve East Kapolei Fire Station. Of all the samples collected, only Kunia Wells III, pump #1 was found E. coli positive the following day, January 24, 2025. The repeat sample from East Kapolei Fire Station and all samples collected from all other sources were all found to be E.coli negative the following day, January 24, 2025.
On January 25, 2025, in response to the E. coli positive from Kunia Wells III, pump #1, BWS collected five (5) additional samples from Kunia Wells III, pump #1 as required by the Ground Water Rule. After the samples were collected, the pump was then shut down. E. coli testing requires at least 25 hours to complete.
E. coli bacteria can exist in tropical, sub-tropical, and temperate soil and may persist in the soil for many years. E. coli is a fecal indicator and a microbe whose presence indicates that the water may be contaminated with human or animal wastes. Microbes in these wastes can cause short-term health effects, such as diarrhea, headaches, or other symptoms. They may pose a special health risk for infants, young children, some of the elderly, and people with severely compromised immune systems.
The BWS immediately notified the State Department of Health (DOH) of the positive E. coli finding and is informing the public as required by Federal and State drinking water regulations.
During the time Kunia Wells III, pump #1 was operating, chlorine was being added to the water before it reaches customers. Water samples collected from East Kapolei Fire Station on January 22, and 23, 2025 had chlorine present and both tested negative for E. coli. Other samples taken in the area served by Kunia Wells III, pump #1 were collected on January 22, from August Ahrens Elementary School, Waipahu Elementary School, Waipahu Intermediate School, The Filipino Community Center, Waipahu Fire Station, Honowai Neighborhood Park, 'Ewa Town Center, 'Ewa Beach Fire Station, Kapolei Elementary School, The Villas at A'eloa, Zippy's Kapolei, PPG Paints Kapolei, Makakilo Booster #2, Panana St., Makakilo Booster #4 also had chlorine present and all tested negative for E. coli. For this reason, the public was not at risk of E. coli exposure.
What is being done?
The BWS, in consultation with DOH, is investigating to determine the reason for the E. coli presence. Kunia Wells III, pump #1 will remain shut down until the BWS concludes its investigation, completes any necessary corrective measures, and receives DOH approval to resume Kunia Wells III, pump #1 operation.
The BWS will issue a second notification on January 26, 2025, to report results of the additional five (5) samples from Kunia Wells III, pump #1.
For more information, please contact the BWS Water Quality Division at (808) 722-6494 or (808) 343-0226 or the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1(800) 426-4791.
Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly, for example people in apartments, nursing homes, schools and businesses. You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.
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About the Board of Water Supply
The Board of Water Supply (BWS), a semi-autonomous agency of the City and County of Honolulu, manages Oahu’s municipal water resources and distribution system. As the largest water utility in the State, the BWS serves approximately one million customers on Oahu. The BWS embraces its mission of “Water for Life – Ka Wai Ola” – to provide a safe, dependable, and affordable water supply, now and into the future. Uwē ka lani, ola ka honua – “When the heavens weep, the earth lives.” For more information, visit www.boardofwatersupply.com, follow @BWSHonolulu or like the BWS’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/BWSHonolulu.
Contact:
Kathleen Elliott-Pahinui
Information Officer
Honolulu Board of Water Supply
Phone: (808) 748-5319