Multiple Hawaii public schools affected by tainted drinking water
Posted: January 14, 2022
The Hawaii State Teachers Association (HSTA) Board of Directors unanimously approved a proposal calling on the U.S. Navy to close its Red Hill fuel tanks which have contaminated drinking water. HSTA’s board approved the proposal Friday, which calls for an immediate emptying of fuel and a full closure of the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility.
Navy officials on Tuesday agreed to comply with the state of Hawaii’s emergency order from Dec. 6 to drain its massive Red Hill underground fuel storage tanks. The World War II-era tanks have been leaking oil since late November and contaminating tap water in and around Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. Some 93,000 users of the tainted water system began reporting a fuel-like odor coming from their faucets.
Multiple Hawaii public schools, including Red Hill, Nimitz, Hickam, and Iroquois Point elementary schools, have been affected by petroleum products present in their water supply, leaving students and staff without clean drinking water from taps and disrupting operations such as meal preparation.
In addition, military families who live in the affected area have been temporarily relocated to hotels in Waikiki due to contaminated water in their homes, causing longer commute times, with no directive from the Hawaii Department of Health (DOH) as to when it will be safe for families to return home.
Of the Navy’s compliance with the state’s order to drain its fuel tanks, HSTA President Osa Tui, Jr. said, “We appreciate that the Navy has finally decided to defuel the Red Hill fuel tanks, however, it is still concerning if more fuel in the ground poses a continued risk to Oahu’s freshwater aquifers.
“Affected schools have been struggling to deal with tainted water on top of issues brought about by COVID-19. For our students, our families, our communities, and our entire state, we must ensure that one of our most precious and vulnerable resources, freshwater, is never in jeopardy of contamination,” Tui said.
In 2008, HSTA passed a Clean Drinking Water in Public Schools measure at its Convention, asserting that every school’s drinking water should meet the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) requirements for clean drinking water. HSTA firmly believes that school water should be tested every six months and that irregularities should be reported immediately.
Despite the Navy’s compliance with the state’s emergency order to remove its fuel from the tanks, there is still a possibility the Navy may contest the order by the state to shut down the tanks. Following the emergency order, the Navy argued that the state lacks the legal authority to compel the service to defuel the tanks, however, the DOH ruled it in fact had the authority to protect and regulate drinking water. It remains unclear if the Navy has plans to further contest the health department’s order.
Under the state order, the Navy has until Feb. 2 to submit a plan to DOH that details fixes that need to be completed in order to safely drain the tanks. After the DOH approves their plan, the Navy must make necessary repairs and defuel the tanks within 30 days.
Attend HSTA forum on Red Hill water contamination Jan. 24
HSTA members are encouraged to attend a virtual forum on the Red Hill water contamination on Monday, Jan. 24, at 4 p.m. via Zoom. The session will address the Red Hill fuel contamination, Oahu’s aquifers, and the future of the Navy’s tanks and storage facility. Speakers will include representatives from the Sierra Club, Honolulu Board of Water Supply, and representatives from impacted Hawaii public schools.
Support the removal of the Red Hill fuel tanks with a signature scroll
The Hawaii Youth Climate Coalition is spearheading a creative way for students to show their support for the removal of the Red Hill fuel tanks by collecting signature scrolls to ensure student voice is heard on the matter.
To participate, teachers can request a 10-inch sheet of scroll paper from the Hawaii Youth Climate Coalition. The scroll will read, “We, the youth of Oahu, support the removal of the Red Hill fuel tanks and our right to clean water.” Students can then add their signatures and may get as creative as they wish with drawings, messages or art.
When the scroll is full, it should be returned to the Hawaii Youth Climate Coalition where it will be added to other signature scrolls from around the island. The goal is to create one large signature scroll to present at hearings, and possibly even Washington, D.C., depending on how the crisis unfurls.
Teachers interested in receiving a signature scroll for their school should contact Dyson Chee, Hawaii Youth Climate Coalition executive director, at cheedyson@gmail.com.
Take the CDC’s Navy water system contamination survey
HSTA members who are affected by the Navy water system contamination are urged to take a survey from the public health team from the DOH and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) by Feb. 7. Questions will cover water use, health symptoms and medical care sought. There will also be questions about the impacts on children and pets and your medical history. Your identity will be kept confidential.
Completion of the survey will help the DOH better understand the impacts of this contamination event and determine what steps are needed to protect the health of people who were exposed. A report with results will be summarized and made public at the conclusion of the survey.
HIDOE to present on Red Hill water contamination to BOE Jan. 20
The Hawaii State Department of Education (HIDOE) will present on the Red Hill water contamination and its effect on public schools, staff, students and the community at the Hawaii Board of Education meeting on Jan. 20.
According to the HIDOE, seven schools were identified as being supplied water by the United States Navy Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC). The HIDOE will present information regarding the HIDOE and BOE’s jurisdictional authority in the matter, as well as information on the schools affected, including student and staff well-being, academic interference and financial impacts.