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: USGS Water Quality Portal · 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 | 8.9 yrs | 8.5 yrs | — |
| Washing Machine | 12.9 yrs | 12 yrs | — |
| Water Heater | 14.8 yrs | 15 yrs | -1% |
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 | 63 mg/L | 1.3 ppt | 🟡 Moderately Hard | groundwater |
| Aliamanu / Salt Lakes / Foster Village, Hawaii | 35 mg/L | 0.9 ppt | 🟢 Soft | groundwater |
| Halawa, Hawaii | 44.5 mg/L | 1 ppt | 🟢 Soft | groundwater |
| Waimalu, Hawaii | 24 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 | 150 mg/L | 🟠 Moderate |
| Badger Top Rated | 8.5 mg/L | 🟢 None |
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What Makes Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam's Water Unique?
Local geology and source profile
Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam (JBPHH), Hawaii, in Honolulu County on the island of Oahu — the combined US Navy and US Air Force joint base formed by the 2010 merger of Naval Station Pearl Harbor and Hickam Air Force Base, the site of the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor (the event that brought the United States into World War II), home of the USS Arizona Memorial, Pacific Fleet Submarine Force, and Pacific Air Forces (PACAF), and one of the most historically significant military installations in the world — draws its municipal water supply from the Pearl Harbor artesian basal aquifer via the Honolulu Board of Water Supply. Water hardness at JBPHH measures 20 mg/L — classified as very soft.
JBPHH's exceptional softness reflects the Pearl Harbor artesian basin's calcium-poor basalt volcanic geology. The Pearl Harbor Artesian Basin — one of the most productive basal aquifers on Oahu — is hosted in the Quaternary–Pliocene Koolau Basalt (the tholeiitic ocean island basalt of the Koolau Range's basal freshwater lens). The Pearl Harbor artesian wells historically flowed freely to the surface from artesian pressure in the basal basalt aquifer. The Koolau Basalt is extremely calcium-poor tholeiitic ocean island basalt, producing some of the softest major municipal water supplies in the United States. JBPHH's extremely soft 20 mg/L reflects the Pearl Harbor artesian basin's exceptional basalt aquifer softness.
With hardness at 20 mg/L, JBPHH residents enjoy exceptionally soft water with virtually no scale challenges. Honolulu Board of Water Supply consistently delivers water meeting all Hawaii DOH and EPA Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
Geology & Source: Groundwater from the Honolulu Board of Water Supply (BWS) Pearl Harbor–Honolulu basal aquifer via the US Navy and JBPHH Water Division — the Honolulu District Pearl Harbor basin (Quaternary–Pliocene Koolau Basalt basal lens aquifer Pearl Harbor basin); extremely soft supply at 20 mg/L — reflecting Oahu's calcium-poor Koolau Basalt volcanic terrain and the Pearl Harbor artesian basin.