Water is always a concern when visiting a foreign country, whether the tap water is safe to drink or if you should instead buy bottled water. With the water contamination incident in Hawaii in late 2021, you may be wondering if you can drink tap water in Hawaii.
Since the Red Hill water crisis in Hawaii in 2021, the water quality has been restored, and the water in Hawaii is once again safe to drink. Because most of the island’s water supply comes from aquifers filtered through volcanic rocks, the water is clean and safe to drink,
There is nothing more refreshing than drinking cool fresh water. If you enjoy having a sip of cool water direct from the tap but worry the water may not be up to standard, then we put your mind at ease and explain why Hawaii is some of the best water in the world.
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How Safe Is It To Drink Tap Water In Hawaii?
The water in Hawaii and its neighboring islands is safe to drink directly from the tap. Hawaii’s Department of Water regularly performs tests to evaluate the water standard to ensure it complies with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Hawaii’s state standards.
In November of 2021, Hawaii banned tap water consumption for any household use due to contamination of the water supplies from the Red Hill underground petrol storage facility.
However, this problem was resolved by the middle of 2022, and the water supplies were drained. Two of the three aquifers were shut down to prevent any possible contamination of potable water.
The Navy responsible for this has also agreed to drain and shut down the storage facility in Red Hill to prevent any future environmental risks of water contamination to the underground water supplier under the Red Hill Storage facility.
Although water supplies have been restored to the community in Hawaii, and the water is safe to drink, the contamination incident has left the island with a water shortage as two of the three aquifers were indefinitely shutdown.
Where Does The Tap Water Come From?
Water on the islands of Hawaii comes from surface water and aquifers found throughout the eight major islands.
These aquifers are made of volcanic rock and sediments that hold groundwater from rainfalls. The water filters through these natural systems over more than 2 decades and finally gets trapped in empty spaces underground. These underground wells are tapped into and pumped out to reservoirs for the town’s water supplies.
Each island has its own water supply board that treats and tests the water and supplies water to its inhabitants. Because the water comes from precipitation and is already filtered through volcanic layers and sediment, it is delicious. Some may even say it is the best-tasting water in the world.
Nothing is more refreshing than pure natural cool spring water, and the water in Hawaii is as close as you get to it. The water is still treated with small amounts of chlorine to disinfect the water of any bacteria that it may contain.
If you’re water smells of chlorine, a tip is to refrigerate it. Cold fridge water will lose the chlorine smell you first get when it comes from the tap.
Water Hardness In Hawaii
Photo by waterestore.ca
Hawaii is known for being one of the states with the lowest averages of soft water ratios compared to the rest of the United States, with 34 PPM considered soft water.
Water hardness is caused and calculated according to the level of calcium and magnesium compounds in the water and other trace elements.
A general indication of water hardness classification is;
- Soft water 0-60 PPM
- Moderately hard 61-120 PPM
- Hard 121-180 PPM
- Very hard > 180 PPM
Luckily water hardness is not a concern for your health, but it does affect the taste, not to mention the damage it does to pipes and pumps. The harder the water, the less effective detergents and soaps become, so you use more of them for a thorough cleaning.
Most of the water supplied to the various towns on the islands is considered to have soft water, except for Maui reaching 110 PPM, which falls into the moderately hard level of water.
How Is The Water On The Other Islands In Hawaii?
The water on the islands comes from various sources of surface streams, aquifers, and wells from the tropical rainfalls in the mountains on the islands, thanks to the trade winds.
Ohau
The water in Ohau was a concern due to the Red Hill Leak Incident in 2021. Two of the three aquifers have been shut down, so there is a water shortage currently, but it has been deemed safe to drink tap water on the island.
Big Island
The tap water on the Big Island of Hawaii is safe to drink. Rainwater has been filtered through porous rocks and captured in aquifers. The water is also collected from the surface stream, where it is treated and disinfected, making it safe to drink straight out of the tap.
Kona
The water in Kona is safe to drink and is in compliance with federal health-based drinking water standards. However, you may find the taste different from the other islands’ water. But it is totally safe to drink.
Waikiki
Hawaii’s Board of Water Supply works closely with the States and Federal agencies. It guarantees that the water in Waikiki is perfectly safe to drink and has no disease-carrying contaminants, so there is no need for a filtration system.
Maui
The water in Maui is safe to drink and is controlled by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Depending on where in Maui you will be, the water comes from various sources, such as surface water from streams, water wells, and aquifers.
Kauai
Kauai’s water is safe to drink and is regularly tested to ensure there are no contaminants in the water. The Department of Water (DOW) ensures the water meets the EPA and Hawaii’s state standards.
The water is sourced from streams, ponds, rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and wells.
Conclusion
Wherever you go on your vacation in Hawaii, you can be sure to have safe drinking water straight from the tap. Since the 2021 petroleum leak at Red Hill, the water conditions have improved, and the bands on drinking or using water directly from the taps have been lifted. So you can safely quench your midnight thirst with a refreshing sip of island water straight from your tap.