Lawmakers: Red Hill Fuel Leaked Into Well Through A Pipeline Navy Didn’t Know Existed

TL;DR - The jet fuel that contaminated the drinking water of thousands of military families spewed from a Red Hill fuel facility pipeline and went directly into the water supply by way of a drain line that the Navy didn’t even know was there, the Navy told state lawmakers during a tour last week.

Rep. Sonny Ganaden, who was on the tour, said the drain line is a few inches in diameter and looks like a hole in the floor of the tunnel. It was installed to collect naturally occurring moisture and drain it into the Red Hill drinking water well, he said. Except during a Nov. 20 leak, it didn’t collect water. It took in a “direct injection” of fuel, Ganaden said.

“They didn’t know it was there,” he said. “It’s the worst-case scenario.” 

January 14, 2022: Lawmakers: Red Hill Fuel Leaked Into Well Through A Pipeline Navy Didn’t Know Existed, Honolulu Civil Beat