HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Navy water testing has confirmed a trace amount of diesel in four homes at Pearl Harbor, but it’s not jet fuel.
The level is low and doesn’t spark any official warnings.
But the EPA is investigating because of concerns from the 2021 Red Hill fuel leaks that sickened thousands of people.
Richelle Dietz, who lives in Earhart Village at Pearl Harbor , called the Navy after she says mystery sheens re-appeared in her water.
She’s also a plaintiff in a massive Red Hill lawsuit against the government.
A Navy water test from her hot water heater in November confirmed a trace amount of diesel, which could be from fuel or other petroleum products.
“I was shocked,” said Dietz.
Special Section: Navy Water Crisis
Dietz says the sheen disappeared last month, but she says her family’s skin, breathing and stomach illnesses got worse when the sheen was there.
“I’m really worried for my kids being exposed every day,” she said.
A Hawaii News Now crew tasted the water and found nothing strange.
In a statement, Navy Region Hawaii said test results inside four homes “ranged from non-detect to 144 parts per billion (ppb) for total petroleum hydrocarbons, which is below the Hawaii Department of Health’s incident specific parameter of 266 parts per billion.”
Dietz’s result from her hot water heater came back for petroleum hydrocarbons (as diesel) at 70.6.
Dietz wants a new water heater, fearing lingering fuel in her pipes.
The Navy has repeatedly said the water from its system is safe, but federal investigators want to know if the problem is in the plumbing.
The EPA is expecting a Navy plumbing report from those homes in a two weeks.
The Navy tested its Waiawa shaft — where the water now comes from — and says it showed no detections of jet fuel or diesel.
The EPA said the investigation is still open.
“EPA will continue to play our oversight role in the interest of ensuring the safety of drinking water,” the federal agency said, in a statement.
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https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2024/01/12/epa-investigation-narrows-plumbing-after-navy-confirms-diesel-four-pearl-harbor-homes/
