The U.S. military has completed draining millions of gallons of fuel from an underground fuel tank complex in Hawaii that contaminated Pearl Harbor’s drinking water in 2021. This was done by Joint Task Force Red Hill, which began defueling the tanks in October after months of repairs to prevent further leaks while draining 104 million gallons of fuel. Responsibility for the tanks has now been handed over to Navy Closure Task Force-Red Hill, led by Rear Adm. Stephen D. Barnett, charged with decommissioning the tanks, cleaning up the environment, and restoring the aquifer underneath.
Vice Adm. John Wade, the commander of the task force that drained the tanks, praised Barnett’s understanding of the job and emphasized the new task force’s mission to safely close the facility for clean water and environmental remediation. The decision to drain the tanks came after public outcry and concerns about the threat the tanks posed to Honolulu’s water supply, with the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility sitting above an aquifer that supplies water to 400,000 people in urban Honolulu. The military created the facility during World War II to shield the fuel tanks from aerial attack, each tank equivalent in height to a 25-story building and capable of holding 12.5 million gallons.
A Navy investigation found errors led to thousands of gallons of fuel seeping into the water system serving 93,000 people on and around the Pearl Harbor naval base in 2021 with reports of nausea, vomiting, and skin rashes from water users. Three retired military officers were reprimanded for their roles in the spill, but no suspensions or firings were made. The Honolulu Board of Water Supply stopped pumping water from the aquifer under the fuel tanks upon discovering the spill to prevent contamination of the municipal water system. Alternative water sources are being sought, but the Pearl Harbor aquifer was the city’s most productive, providing about 20% of the water consumed.
Efforts to prevent any further contamination and ensure clean water for Honolulu residents are now being overseen by Navy Closure Task Force-Red Hill, with a focus on decommissioning the tanks, cleaning up the environment, and restoring the aquifer. The completion of draining the fuel from the tanks marks a significant step in addressing the 2021 spill issue and potential health risks to the community from fuel contamination. The continued monitoring and remediation efforts will be crucial in restoring the water supply and ensuring the safety of those in the surrounding areas who were affected by the leak. With the transfer of responsibility to the new task force, there is hope for a comprehensive and effective resolution to the contamination issue at Pearl Harbor.
