NEWS & UPDATES
For Immediate Release
October 10, 2025
Board of Water Supply Confirms Low-Level Detection of PFAS at Pearl City Wells I Pump #2
HONOLULU – The Board of Water Supply (BWS) has confirmed the low-level detection of Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) at its Pearl City Wells I Pump #2. The type of PFAS chemicals and the levels detected are shown in the table below. The BWS reported the findings to the Hawaiʻi Department of Health (DOH) in accordance with Hawaiʻi State Law.
| Location | Analyte | Sample Date: 9/9/2025 (ppt) | Sample Date: 9/15/2025 (ppt) | EPA MCL (ppt) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pearl City Wells I Pump #1 | Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) | 2.2 | 2.4 | 4 |
All values in ppt (parts per trillion)
Abbreviations:
ppt = parts per trillion
EPA = U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
MCL = Maximum Contaminant Level
BWS detected these chemicals as part of its PFAS testing program. Multiple samples were tested to confirm the finding, and improvements in test methods and technology enable the detection of these very low levels. The well station is located in Pearl City at the corner of Waimano Home Road and Wahinani Street and serves water in the Pearl City area.
PFAS 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 (e.g., cookware) designed to be waterproof, stain-resistant, or non-stick. They also have been used in fire-retarding foam.
Manager and Chief Engineer Ernest Lau stated, “We take our kuleana to provide safe drinking water to our community seriously and will continue to test for PFAS chemicals and monitor for any changes.”
About the Board of Water Supply
The Board of Water Supply (BWS), a semi-autonomous agency of the City and County of Honolulu, manages Oʻahu’s municipal water resources and distribution system. As the largest water utility in the State, the BWS serves approximately one million customers on Oʻahu. 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 about the BWS, visit www.boardofwatersupply.com, follow @BWSHonolulu, or like the BWS’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BWSHonolulu.
Contact:
Kathleen Elliott-Pahinui
Information Officer
Honolulu Board of Water Supply
Phone: (808) 748-5319