Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)
Water Hardness
1.2 grains per gallon
Source
groundwater
pH Level
7.1
neutral = 7.0
Lead
0.002 mg/L
✓ Below action level
TDS
46.9 mg/L
Est. Daily Cost
$0.05
energy & soap waste
Source: See methodology section below · Updated 2026
0–60
mg/L
Soft
61–120
mg/L
Moderately Hard
121–180
mg/L
Hard
180+
mg/L
Very Hard
Appliance Damage Report
In Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam, your appliances are currently losing 3% efficiency due to mineral buildup.
| Appliance | In Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam | Soft Water City | Efficiency Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettle | 8.2 yrs | 8.5 yrs | -4% |
| Washing Machine | 11.6 yrs | 12 yrs | -3% |
| Water Heater | 14.6 yrs | 15 yrs | -3% |
Regional Water Comparison
How Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam compares to its nearest neighbours
| City | Hardness | PFAS (ppt) | Risk | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam, Hawaii | 20 mg/L | 0.7 ppt | 🟢 Soft | groundwater |
| Airport, Hawaii | ≈ 0–60 mg/L | 1.3 ppt | 🟢 Soft | groundwater |
| Aliamanu / Salt Lakes / Foster Village, Hawaii | ≈ 0–60 mg/L | 0.9 ppt | 🟢 Soft | groundwater |
| Halawa, Hawaii | ≈ 0–60 mg/L | 1 ppt | 🟢 Soft | groundwater |
| Waimalu, Hawaii | ≈ 0–60 mg/L | 0.7 ppt | 🟢 Soft | groundwater |
National Benchmark
How Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam compares to the USA average
| Benchmark | Hardness | Appliance Risk |
|---|---|---|
| ▶ Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam | 20 mg/L | 🟢 None |
| USA National Avg | 151 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Scarsdale Top Rated | 0.02 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
The JBPHH Water System, operated by Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Hawaii (NAVFAC Hawaii), serves approximately 93,000 users across Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Aliamanu Military Reservation (AMR), and Red Hill Housing in Honolulu County, Hawaii. The system draws from three groundwater sources: Waiawa Shaft, Navy Aiea-Halawa Shaft, and Red Hill Shaft. During the 2024 reporting period, all drinking water was sourced from the Waiawa Shaft. Water is disinfected and fluoridated before distribution through the piped network.
The water supply originates from Hawaii's volcanic aquifer system, composed of basaltic lava flows and pyroclastic deposits typical of the Hawaiian Islands' geological formation. Groundwater naturally filters through these porous volcanic rock formations as it percolates from the surface to the aquifers, with the volcanic geology shaping the water's mineral composition. The Red Hill Shaft was contaminated by petroleum from the nearby Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility in November 2021, leading to a major drinking water crisis affecting thousands of residents at JBPHH and AMR.
The system's water quality has improved significantly since the 2021 contamination incident. As of March 2022, the Hawaii Department of Health removed all health advisories on drinking water at JBPHH and AMR, declaring it safe under regulatory guidelines. Out of 73 contaminants tested, none exceed EPA legal limits, and the 2025 Annual Water Quality Report confirms all measured levels remain below EPA and State requirements. Water sampling results are continuously posted to the JBPHH Drinking Water Monitoring information page once reviewed by the Hawaii Department of Health.
Geology & Source: Hawaii volcanic aquifer system — basaltic lava flows and pyroclastic deposits; porous volcanic rock naturally filters groundwater percolating to Waiawa, Navy Aiea-Halawa, and Red Hill shafts; low-mineral volcanic geology
Other Hawaii Water Reports
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam's water safe to drink?
Do I need a water softener in Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam?
How does Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam compare to the USA average?
Data Sources & Methodology
Water quality data for Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam is derived from geographic and geological modelling of the surrounding region. No federal monitoring station data was available for this location.
Water Hardness
Modelled estimate based on state-level USGS geological survey data for this region. No direct USGS Water Quality Portal measurement was matched to this city — the value reflects a statistical range calibrated to the state's dominant rock types and typical source water characteristics.
pH
Estimated from regional geology and source water characteristics. pH is correlated with water hardness and local bedrock — values may differ from utility-reported figures.
TDS — Total Dissolved Solids
Estimated using a derived ratio from water hardness and regional conductance profiles. TDS in natural water correlates strongly with total mineral content including hardness ions.
PFAS — Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances
EPA UCMR5 (5th Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 2023–2025) — sum of PFAS compounds detected at the public water system serving this city. A value of 0 indicates the system was sampled with no detection above reporting limits.
Lead
Modelled estimate based on the EPA Lead and Copper Rule 90th-percentile tap-sample methodology. No publicly available per-city lead dataset with sufficient national coverage exists. Values are a conservative baseline derived from city population tier and infrastructure age — all estimates are maintained below the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L.
Appliance Lifespan
Calculated from water hardness using a linear degradation model. Baseline lifespans represent soft-water performance (kettle: 8.5 yrs, washing machine: 12.0 yrs, water heater: 15.0 yrs). Hard water mineral scale progressively reduces operational life in direct proportion to hardness concentration.