2 more wells installed to check Red Hill water

The Navy has completed installation of two more groundwater monitoring wells near the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Facility, bringing the number to 12.

Another two monitoring wells will be installed next year to continue to check water quality and evaluate how groundwater moves in the vicinity, the Navy said in a news release Thursday.

In 2014, the Navy detected a leak of 27,000 gallons of fuel from a Red Hill Navy-owned tank situated atop a large aquifer, touching off heightened concerns about the safety of Hawaii’s potable water supplies.

Rear Adm. John Fuller, commander, Navy Region Hawaii and Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific, said in the release: “As in the past, testing and independent lab results clearly indicate that all drinking water near Red Hill — including neighboring drinking water used by the Honolulu Board of Water Supply — remains safe and meets all federal and state safe drinking water standards.”

The wells, which range in cost from $500,000 to $700,000 each, are paid for by the Defense Logistics Agency. Since 2006, the Navy has invested nearly $200 million to modernize Red Hill.

The first Hawaii state fuel tank advisory committee meeting is set for Thursday.

Officials will also discuss Red Hill updates at a public meeting set for 6 p.m. Thursday at Moanalua Middle School.