News Release – Low Levels of PFAS Detected in St. Stephen’s Diocesan Center Water System on Oʻahu
Posted on Jun 3, 2025 in Latest Department News, Newsroom
STATE OF HAWAIʻI
KA MOKU ʻĀINA O HAWAIʻI
JOSH GREEN, M.D.
GOVERNOR
KE KIAʻĀINA
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
KA ʻOIHANA OLAKINO
- KENNETH FINK
DIRECTOR
KA LUNA HOʻOKELE
LOW LEVELS OF PFAS DETECTED IN ST. STEPHEN’S DIOCESAN CENTER WATER SYSTEM ON OʻAHU
25-066
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 3, 2025
HONOLULU — Low levels of PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances) have been detected in water samples collected at the SSDC-1 Well Chlorinator of the St. Stephen’s Diocesan Center water system (Public Water System HI0000314, owned by the Roman Catholic Church, Hawaiʻi) which serves a portion of Windward Oʻahu.
The detections of Perfluoroctane Sulfonic Acid (PFOS) are below the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) and are unlikely to pose a public health risk.
The PFOS detections were sporadic, with concentrations ranging from non-detected to 2.7 nanogram per liter (ng/L), which is below the EPA MCL for PFOS of 4.0 ng/L. MCLs are the highest levels of contaminants that are allowed in drinking water by the EPA.
| PFAS Chemical | Sample Collection Date | Detected Level (ng/L) | Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) (ng/L) |
| Perfluoroctane Sulfonic Acid (PFOS) | July 18, 2023 | 2.2 | 4.0 |
| Perfluoroctane Sulfonic Acid (PFOS) | Oct. 4, 2023 | Non-Detected | 4.0 |
| Perfluoroctane Sulfonic Acid (PFOS) | April 21, 2025 | 2.6 | 4.0 |
| Perfluoroctane Sulfonic Acid (PFOS) | May 19, 2025 | 2.7 | 4.0 |
The water system formally notified the Hawaiʻi Department of Health (DOH) of the initial detection of PFOS via email on May 29, 2025. According to the EPA, PFAS, which have been used since the 1940s, are fluorinated organic chemicals that have been used extensively in consumer products such as carpets, clothing, fabrics for furniture, paper packaging for food and other materials (e.g., cookware) designed to be waterproof, stain-resistant, or non-stick. They are also a component of firefighting foam and have many industrial uses.
For more information on PFAS, please see https://www.epa.gov/pfas or https://health.hawaii.gov/pfas. Impacted users may also contact St. Stephen’s Diocesan Center water system.
This press release is issued in accordance with Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS) § 340E-24(b).
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Media contact:
Adam LeFebvre
Information Specialist
Hawaiʻi State Department of Health
Mobile: 808-436-6195
Email: [email protected]