Each tank is as tall as a 25-story building. The Navy built the tanks in two rows of 10 inside a mountain ridge 3 miles (4.8 kilometers) inland from Pearl Harbor.

The tank farm contains 20 large underground fuel tanks that date back to World War II. Hawaii’s congressional delegation has asked the Department of Defense to investigate. Honolulu Civil Beat reported last month that officials waited months to report a January fuel leak at Pearl Harbor to the state Department of Health because they were worried doing so would hurt their ability to get a permit for the Red Hill tanks. The Navy said no fuel leaked into the environment in that episode.

Last week, the Navy said a water and fuel mixture leaked from a fire suppression system drain line into a lower tunnel in the Red Hill fuel tank farm. People who stop drinking effected water should start to feel better in a few hours, she said.įelton said she won't know whether anyone would be expected to suffer any long-term effects of drinking the water until she learns what type of petroleum was involved, but at this point she believes it's unlikely. Skin exposure may lead to itching and rashes. Diana Felton, Hawaii's state toxicologist, said people who ingest petroleum may experience nausea, vomiting and diarrhea as well as dizziness and headaches. The elementary school gets its water from the Navy's water system.ĭr. The Navy and the state Department of Health are both investigating where the contamination is coming from, though the Navy said it has not detected any fuel in the water. The system provides water to about 93,000 people living in and near Pearl Harbor. It's recommending that those who can smell fuel in their water not to use it for bathing, washing dishes or laundry. The department has advised all those using the Navy's water not to drink their tap water. The Navy on Sunday shut down a Red Hill well that draws water from the aquifer out of an “abundance of caution,” a spokesperson said. Both the Navy and the utility have wells that draw on the Moanalua-Waimalu aquifer which is located 100 feet (30 meters) underneath the Navy's fuel storage tanks at Red Hill. The department said all complaints have come from people using the Navy's water system, and not from anyone who gets their water from Honolulu's municipal water utility. READ: Hawaii groups want US to shut down military fuel tanks Some have said they suffered from stomach pain and headaches. For three days, hundreds of residents in Navy housing have complained of a fuel-like odor coming from their tap water.

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