Trace Amounts of Chromium Detected in Laupāhoehoe Water System TAP WATER IS SAFE TO DRINK

Trace Amounts of Chromium Detected in
Laupāhoehoe Water System
TAP WATER IS SAFE TO DRINK
The Department of Water Supply (DWS), County of Hawai‘i, reassures Laupāhoehoe Water
System customers that their tap water is safe to drink and that no health risks are associated with
the recent discovery of chromium in recent water samples from Laupāhoehoe Well P-2. Chromium
is an odorless and tasteless metallic element and is found naturally in rocks, plants, soil and
volcanic dust, and animals.
Trace amounts of this naturally occurring element were detected in the recent required water
samples to reactivate DWS’ Laupāhoehoe Well P-2 for use in the public water system. The detected
chromium (total) levels ranged from 1.40 parts per billion (ppb) to 2.42 ppb, well below the
Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 100 ppb.
Laupāhoehoe Well P-2 has been offline and not in use since January 2021 while undergoing
repairs. During that time, the nearby Laupāhoehoe Well P-1 has been the primary water source for
the water system. Chromium (total) has not been detected in Laupāhoehoe Well P-1.
Since this is the first-time chromium has been detected in the Laupāhoehoe Well P-2 source, the
State of Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) is required to and will be notifying the public of
this previously undetected contaminant in the public drinking water supply.
Again, the public’s tap water is safe to drink. There are no adverse health risks associated
with consuming the drinking water. DWS will update its customers and the public
appropriately.