Trace amounts of chromium detected in water samples collected in a Laupāhoehoe well

Trace amounts of chromium have been detected for the first time in water samples collected at the Laupāhoehoe P-2 Well, which is part of the County of Hawai‘i Department of Water Supply’s Laupāhoehoe-Kapehu system (Public Water System HI0000102) and serves the Laupāhoehoe area of Hawaiʻi Island.

County officials reassured Laupāhoehoe Water System customers this morning that their tap water is safe to drink and that no health risks are associated with the recent discovery of chromium, an odorless and tasteless metallic element found naturally in rocks, plants, soil, volcanic dust and animals.

Chromium was detected in samples collected on March 4 and April 15. The county notified Hawaiʻi Department of Health of the initial detection on May 2. The detected chromium levels ranged from 1.4 to 2.42 parts per billion (ppb) and were below the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and state Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for chromium of 100 parts per billion (ppb).

The presence of chromium in the sample is attributed to the discharge from steel and pulp mills; and/or the erosion of natural deposits.

To date, the Laupāhoehoe-Kapehu water system is and continues to be in compliance with federal and state chromium standards for drinking water.

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.