PFAS Contamination

PFAS in Hawaii Drinking Water

Ranked by number of PFAS compounds detected · Data from EPA SDWIS & UCMR

Cities Tested

Exceeds Limit

% Exceeds Limit

0.1 compounds

State Avg

▼ 21% vs national

vs National

Health Violations

Analysis

PFAS in Hawaii: what the data shows

Hawaii has 40 cities with PFAS monitoring data from the EPA's UCMR 5 program. PFAS ("forever chemicals") were detected in 2 of those cities (5%), with no cities exceeding the EPA's 2024 maximum contaminant levels of 4 ppt. The state average is better than the national average. No cities in Hawaii currently exceed the 2024 EPA PFAS maximum contaminant levels, though detections below the MCL are still a concern. Reverse osmosis systems and high-quality activated carbon filters are effective at reducing PFAS at the tap. PFAS data comes from the EPA's Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule 5 (UCMR 5), which required large water systems to test for 29 PFAS compounds between 2023–2025. Not all systems have completed testing — cities without data may still have PFAS present.

Comparison

Cities exceeding EPA MCL (4 ppt each)

Hawaii

0 of 40 cities

← ▼ 21% below national rate (better)

National avg

21%

1662 of 7853 cities

City Map

PFAS data across Hawaii

Each dot is a city, colored by overall water quality grade. PFAS-tested cities are shown; those exceeding the 4 ppt EPA MCL appear in red. Size reflects population served.

Worst Offenders

Top 10 cities by pfas level in Hawaii

Highest PFAS levels (compounds)

All Cities

All Hawaii cities ranked by pfas level

#	City	Level	Exceeds?	Violations	Grade
1	Honolulu-Windward-Pearlharbor	1 compounds	No	1	A
2	Waipahu-Ewa-Waianae	1 compounds	No	0	A
3	Wailuku	0 compounds	No	3	A
4	Pearl Harbor	0 compounds	No	2	A
5	Mililani Bws	0 compounds	No	0	A+
6	Schofield Barracks	0 compounds	No	3	A
7	Hilo	0 compounds	No	48	A
8	Lihue-Kapaa	0 compounds	No	0	A
9	Makawao	0 compounds	No	83	B+
10	North Kona	0 compounds	No	0	A-
11	Honolulu	0 compounds	No	1	B+
12	Lahaina	0 compounds	No	106	B
13	Kaneohe	0 compounds	No	1	A-
14	Kalaheo	0 compounds	No	0	A-
15	Kula	0 compounds	No	107	B-
16	Waikoloa (Dho)	0 compounds	No	3	A+
17	Waipio	0 compounds	No	0	A+
18	Waialua-Haleiwa	0 compounds	No	1	B+
19	South Kohala	0 compounds	No	89	B+
20	Kaanapali (Dho)	0 compounds	No	3	A
21	Wahiawa	0 compounds	No	4	A
22	Princeville (Dho)	0 compounds	No	0	A
23	South Kona	0 compounds	No	0	A-
24	Olaa-Mt.View	0 compounds	No	0	A+
25	Salt Lake	0 compounds	No	2	A
26	Kekaha (Dow)	0 compounds	No	0	A
27	Hanapepe-Eleele (Dow)	0 compounds	No	0	A-
28	Laie	0 compounds	No	1	A
29	Moanalua	0 compounds	No	3	A
30	North Kohala	0 compounds	No	0	A-
31	Sunset Beach	0 compounds	No	0	A+
32	Hawaiian Shores Dho	0 compounds	No	2	A
33	Haina	0 compounds	No	0	A+
34	Hvnp (Dho)	0 compounds	No	1	A
35	Kapalua (Dho)	0 compounds	No	2	A+
36	Kapalama	0 compounds	No	0	A-
37	Kaunakakai	0 compounds	No	1	A+
38	Downtown Honolulu	0 compounds	No	3	A+
39	Kilauea (Dow)	0 compounds	No	0	A+
40	Kohala Joint Venture	0 compounds	No	0	B+

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about pfas in Hawaii

Does Hawaii tap water contain PFAS?

PFAS were detected in 2 of 40 Hawaii cities tested under EPA's UCMR 5 program. No cities currently exceed the 2024 EPA MCL.

How can I remove PFAS from my drinking water in Hawaii?

Reverse osmosis (RO) systems are the most effective at removing PFAS, typically removing 90%+ of compounds. High-quality activated carbon block filters (NSF 58-certified for RO, or NSF 53 for solid carbon) also provide significant reduction. Standard pitcher filters vary widely in PFAS removal.

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