Contact

WATER QUALITY

PFAS

Information about Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of chemicals used to make fluoropolymer coatings and products that resist heat, oil, stains, grease, and water. Fluoropolymer coatings can be in a variety of products.

Some of the information below has been excerpted from the Environmental Protection Agencyʻs (EPA) website external link. Please note as the EPA increases its understanding of PFAS a a chemical class, the information is updated.

light bulb For more in-depth information: https://www.epa.gov/pfas/our-current-understanding-human-health-and-environmental-risks-pfas external link

What are PFAS?

PFAS are a group of manufactured chemicals that have been used in industry and consumer products since the 1940s because of their useful properties. There are thousands of different PFAS, some of which have been more widely used and studied than others. Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS), for example, are two of the most widely used and studied chemicals in the PFAS group. PFOA and PFOS have been replaced in the United States with other PFAS in recent years.

One common characteristic of concern of PFAS is that many break down very slowly and can build up in people, animals, and the environment over time. This is why they are called forever chemicals.

Where are PFAS found?

PFAS can be present in our water, soil, air, and food as well as in materials found in our homes or workplaces, including:

  • Drinking water – in public drinking water systems and private drinking water wells.
  • Soil and water at or near waste sites – at landfills, disposal sites, and hazardous waste sites such as those that fall under the federal Superfund and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act programs.
  • Fire extinguishing foam – in aqueous film-forming foams (or AFFFs) used to extinguish flammable liquid-based fires. Such foams are used in training and emergency response events at airports, shipyards, military bases, firefighting training facilities, chemical plants, and refineries.
  • Manufacturing or chemical production facilities that produce or use PFAS – for example at chrome plating, electronics, and certain textile and paper manufacturers.
  • Food – for example in fish caught from water contaminated by PFAS and dairy products from livestock exposed to PFAS.
  • Food packaging – for example in grease-resistant paper, fast food containers/wrappers, microwave popcorn bags, pizza boxes, and candy wrappers.
  • Household products and dust – for example in stain and water-repellent used on carpets, upholstery, clothing, and other fabrics; cleaning products; non-stick cookware; paints, varnishes, and sealants.
  • Personal care products – for example in certain shampoo, dental floss, and cosmetics.
  • Biosolids – for example fertilizer from wastewater treatment plants that is used on agricultural lands can affect ground and surface water and animals that graze on the land.

Health Exposure Concerns

Current scientific research suggests that exposure to high levels of certain PFAS may lead to adverse health outcomes. However, research is still ongoing to determine how different levels of exposure to different PFAS can lead to a variety of health effects. Research is also underway to better understand the health effects associated with low levels of exposure to PFAS over long periods of time, especially in children.

What We Know about Health Effects

Current peer-reviewed scientific studies have shown that exposure to certain levels of PFAS (specially PFOAS and PFOS) may lead to:

  • Reproductive effects such as decreased fertility or increased high blood pressure in pregnant women.
  • Developmental effects or delays in children, including low birth weight, accelerated puberty, bone variations, or behavioral changes.
  • Increased risk of some cancers, including prostate, kidney, and testicular cancers.
  • Reduced ability of the body’s immune system to fight infections, including reduced vaccine response.
  • Interference with the body’s natural hormones.
  • Increased cholesterol levels and/or risk of obesity.

Additional Health Effects are Difficult to Determine

Scientists at EPA, in other federal agencies, and in academia and industry are continuing to conduct and review the growing body of research about PFAS. However, health effects associated with exposure to PFAS are difficult to specify for many reasons, such as:

  • There are thousands of PFAS with potentially varying effects and toxicity levels, yet most studies focus on a limited number of better known PFAS compounds.
  • People can be exposed to PFAS in different ways and at different stages of their life.
  • The types and uses of PFAS change over time, which makes it challenging to track and assess how exposure to these chemicals occurs and how they will affect human health.
light bulb For more information on PFAS:
- EPA's Current Understanding external link
- Department of Defense Waiawa Site Information external link
light bulb EPA Quick Links:
- PFOA, PFOS, and Other PFAS external link
- Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule external link

local announcements Related Joint Task Force-Red Hill Announcements

local announcements Related Hawaiʻi Department of Health Announcements

local announcements Related BWS Announcements

Board of Water Supply Board of Water Supply Updates

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Links

No content is currently available for this page. Please check back later.

Updated: 12/11/2024

PFAS

How did the PFAS get into the aquifer and where did they come from?

There is no way of really knowing where the PFAS came from. PFAS have been around since the 1940s with ramped up use in many products since the 1960s. PFAS was used to make nonstick cookware, water-repellent clothing, stain resistant fabrics and carpets, some cosmetics, and firefighting foam. What we can do is to continue monitoring to ensure that the levels either stay static or disappear. We are currently testing for PFAS at levels that are extremely low. This helps us do a better job of monitoring when we do get a hit in one of our wells.

Should residents buy filtration devices?

The use of home filtration device is an individual choice. As a government agency, we are precluded from endorsements for products. If you choose to use a home filtration device, we recommend you thoroughly know what your device can and cannot remove from the water to maintain the system in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

What does the BWS plan to do?

The BWS will continue to monitor and provide data as it comes available. We take our kuleana seriously to provide safe drinking water to our community. We are working on a new section for our website with PFAS information on it including information on the detections at BWS sources. We will send out a news release when ready. We hope this information will be of use to the community as this is an important and serious issue.

In terms of drinking water that is dispensed to peoples’ homes and establishments, do you know who might be or have been affected by the PFAS contamination at the Waiawa armory and training facility? Would this have affected the drinking water of people living in Waiawa or the greater Pearl City area?

The BWS can't speak to the Armory issues but understand they will be testing wells and some lo'i. We have asked that they test the streams in the area as well.

The BWS has been testing all of our wells across the island since 2020 and have had 4 hits – none in the Pearl City area. We had very low level hits at the following wells: Hālawa (2020 and 2023), ʻĀina Koa (2021), Waipahu (2022), Makakilo (2023), Moanalua (2023), and Waipio (2023). With the discovery at the Armory, we will be testing weekly and have just taken new samples which are at the lab on the mainland.

Does BWS pump from any wells in the area near the Waiawa armory?

The BWS has its own resources but not close to the Armory area.

Is BWS currently doing PFAS testing in this area or outside?

BWS conducted PFAS testing on all BWS sources once annually from 2020 to 2022. Starting in 2023, BWS is testing all sources twice annually in accordance with UCMR5. Hālawa Wells and Moanalua Wells are being tested weekly as part of the BWS Red Hill crisis monitoring and Waipio Heights Wells is being tested weekly in response to the Hawaiʻi Army National Guard Waiawa facility (HIARNG) PFAS site investigation. Other BWS wells close to the HIARNG facility that are also being tested weekly are Pearl City Shaft, Pearl City Wells I, Pearl City Wells II and Manana Well. Waipio Heights Wells I is the sixth well station in the area but is presently down for repair and not operational.

What if I am still concerned about PFAS in my drinking water?

If you choose to test your water yourself, it is important to use a state-certified laboratory using EPA-developed testing methods. The Hawaiʻi Department of Health maintains a list of certified labs. You may also consider installing in-home water treatment (e.g., filters) that are certified to lower the levels of PFAS in your water.

The EPA offers guidance about minimizing your risks at the following website: https://www.epa.gov/pfas/meaningful-and-achievable-steps-you-can-take-reduce-your-risk

SHARE

< BACK TO WATER QUALITY