Quality reports find
no unsafe water
None of Oahu's sources for
By Gordon Y.K. Pang
drinking water exceeds risk
levels for contaminants
Star-BulletinRelax. Your water is safe.
The city Board of Water Supply is waving the caution flag as it begins sending out annual water quality reports to Oahu consumers for the first time this month.
The board says consumers need not be alarmed if the reports they receive show any listings of contaminants in their water sources or systems.
Some substances that are considered contaminants appear, either naturally or through human activity, in the island's water sources, said city Water Manager Cliff Jamile.
That doesn't necessarily mean they pose a health threat, Jamile said. "The key is how much is present."
The state Department of Health does 17,700 tests annually for more than 100 regulated contaminants. The Board of Water Supply's chemistry and microbiology labs also conduct more than 10,000 tests each annually.
None of Oahu's 172 water wells, four shafts and 18 tunnels has levels of contaminants of any sort that exceed risk levels as defined by state or federal regulations, Jamile said.
Otherwise, he said, the water could not be distributed.
The water board is required to distribute the reports as a result of an amendment to the 1996 Safe Drinking Water Act, which mandated that consumers be informed about the quality of their drinking water.
The reports identify water sources for each consumer's community, show detected contaminants or elements in the water, describe any treatment process and tell consumers where to go for more information.
Besides the report, consumers are being mailed supplemental information pamphlets explaining the contents of the reports. A second brochure explains how to read the report itself.
Water board spokeswoman Denise DeCosta said the reports should start appearing in mailboxes next week. All consumers should receive them by mid-August.
Questions about water quality may be directed to:
The State Department of Health, Safe Drinking Water Branch: 586-4258.
Water managers for all four counties will be joined by state Health Director Bruce Anderson in a panel discussion on drinking-water quality that will air on television through the summer. DISCUSSIONS COMING TO TV
The program will include discussion on water quality concerns on each of the four islands and how federal regulations affect Hawaii water systems.
Joining Anderson will be water managers David Craddick of Maui, Cliff Jamile of Oahu, Ernest Lau of Kauai and Milton Pavao of the Big Island. Kailua Neighborhood Board member Terry Carroll will act as consumer advocate.
The program will air on:
The discussion will also air in July and August.
