 The Ka'ū Calendar“The quality of your water is a direct link to the quality of your health.” This is the mantra of Todd Lolla, who founded Uncle Tilo's Clean Water, LLC. He is bringing a free Clean Water class to Ocean View Community Center on Saturday, April 9 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Lolla focuses on rainwater harvesting, "a technology that communities across the globe will increasingly rely upon to adapt to climate change and environmental pollution issues." In addition to hosting informational sessions, Lolla recruits Field Technicians to train and provide knowledge, services, and products "to further contribute to the wellbeing of our local rainwater harvesters." He offers Water Partnerships, along with training and support to those who would like to become certified technicians through the American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association. "We support rainwater harvesters with peace of mind," said Lolla. "Uncle Tilo’s mission provides economically viable and environmentally friendly solutions for rainwater harvesters." He said, "Rainwater harvesting as a necessary component into the future." Lolla, who is known as Uncle Tilo, grew up in the Midwest and remembers harvesting rainwater on his family’s dairy farm through the mid 1970’s. He is a graduate of the South Dakota School of Mines, with a BS in Geological Engineering, A career in Arizona combined consulting and contractor skills. While working for a civil engineering firm in Phoenix, his projects involved groundwater studies and subsequent cleanup of fuel spills at gasoline stations. This led him to earn a license to be a well-driller in Arizona for ten years. He said his focus on groundwater issues moved him to specialize in storm water management. He worked with state environmental agencies during the 1990’s to set standards for the protection of groundwater across the desert Southwest. In 2009, he left the engineering world and moved to Hawai’i Island with a calling to "return to community.” He saw the large demand for rain catchment systems as a potable water source. In 2017, Lolla founded Uncle Tilo’s Clean Water LLC to "fill the need for both education and service involving one of the most basic of human needs, clean water." Lolla pointed to World Population Review, showing the number of Hawai’i county residents recently increased to more than 200,000, with a large percentage dependent on rainwater catchment as a primary domestic water source. Lolla noted, "The Island of Hawai’i, the largest and most southerly island in the Hawaiian archipelago, is characterized by dynamic communities including rural and remote areas not served by municipal water. These communities rely on private or shared wells, water trucked from public spigots and rainwater catchment. Hawai’i Island's population has increased steadily in recent years, as the global demand for access to clean water grows." Uncle Tilo's has hosted more than 50 free Clean Water classes, provided sponsorships, and social media marketing to focus attention on the issues surrounding rainwater harvesting. www.TilosCleanWater.com "is designed for empowerment through education," said Lolla. He said, "It is very important that those using water from a rainwater catchment system understand all the potential dangers and benefits. In Hawai’i, there are no government agencies overseeing the safety of private rainwater catchment systems. It is up to the owner or user of the system to know how to maintain this type of water source and use it in an appropriate manner. With proper design, maintenance, water treatment, and disinfection, a rainwater catchment system can provide water that is free of contamination; soft, clear, odorless, and suitable for drinking and other daily needs. However, improperly designed or maintained rainwater catchment systems may pose a health risk; for example, via the introduction of waterborne illness and exposure to heavy metals." Lolla said that waterborne and vector-borne illness may be transmitted to users from rainwater catchment systems that lack appropriate system elements, maintenance, or from insufficient treatment of stored water. For example, catchment tanks lacking covers or with damaged or poorly sealed covers can provide breeding opportunities for mosquitos known to be disease vectors. Lolla pointed out that the 2015-2016 dengue virus outbreak on Hawai’i Island sickened hundreds. The state Department of Health identified “uncovered catchment systems…” as a potential source of dengue virus infected mosquitos and suggested essential actions be taken to control mosquito breeding in rainwater harvest systems. Other vector-borne diseases transmitted by mosquitos, such as the globally emerging Zika virus, are of concern in areas where mosquitos may breed. The invasive semi-slug, with a propensity to climb up and into water tanks, is a known host of the parasitic nematode responsible for infecting humans with rat lungworm disease, Lolla noted. He cautioned that when it comes to exposure to heavy metals, "the fact that all rainwater is corrosive is at the top of the list. Most rainwater is acidic, regardless of where you are on the planet. Here in Hawai’i, we also have volcanic emissions at this time that adds to this problem as was confirmed by testing one tank while hosting a class in Ocean View last month. "The owners expressed they had never added any minerals in the tank, and it tested out with a pH of 4.5. Typical rainfall has a pH around 6, that means the rainwater we catch in the Kaʻū District is very corrosive." Lolla warned,"If your pipes, sinks, tubs, or toilet have stains, it’s because metals have leached into your water supply. If you are brushing your teeth, showering, drinking, or cooking with this untreated water you are being exposed to heavy metals. Corrosive water may leach metals from your plumbing system, such as lead, cadmium, zinc, iron or copper into your water supply. It also shortens the life expectancy of all plumbing fixtures and appliances." Uncle Tilo’s recommendation is to add minerals to neutralize rainwater to help mitigate ongoing events of the volcanic eruption that are carried along by vog, with its impact on air and rain. Lolla reported a recent increase in calls due to voggy conditions. He said Uncle' Tilo's principle is simple: "From the raindrop to your faucet the whole system affects the quality of the water you use, and ultimately affects the quality of your health." Learn more at www.TilosCleanWater.com.
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 Floating Intake Line |
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Small faucet devices if cleaned regularly help save water, improve water service and reduce the risk of lead exposure.
You may not have known, but at the end of your faucet is a small screen — also known as an aerator — that plays a big part in your home’s water. Aerators screw into kitchen and bathroom faucets. Holes in the screens add air to the water as it streams out of the faucet.
And in a classic case of small things having a big impact, these aerator screens have multiple purposes, including:
Reducing the risk of lead exposure
If you have a lead service line or indoor plumbing that contain lead, you are likely in Denver Water’s Lead Reduction Program and it’s important to clean your aerators every six months. Particles of lead can flake off lead pipes and plumbing and get into your water. Aerators can catch the lead particles, so it’s important to clean them to reduce the risk in your drinking water.
- Reducing the amount of water that comes out of the faucet.
- Shaping the stream of water.
- Maintaining or improving the water pressure.
- Preventing water from splashing when it hits your hands, the sink, a glass or anything else.
- Catching debris and lead particles that may have gotten into the water.
Reducing the risk of lead exposure
If you have a lead service line or indoor plumbing that contain lead, you are likely in Denver Water’s Lead Reduction Program and it’s important to clean your aerators every six months. Particles of lead can flake off lead pipes and plumbing and get into your water. Aerators can catch the lead particles, so it’s important to clean them to reduce the risk in your drinking water.
Breaking News
The Pentagon announced Monday plans to permanently close its embattled
Red Hill underground fuel storage facility amid an ongoing contaminated water crisis.
“After close consultation with senior civilian and military leaders, I have decided to defuel and permanently close the Red Hill bulk fuel storage facility in Hawaii,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said, in statement. “Centrally-located bulk fuel storage of this magnitude likely made sense in 1943, when Red Hill was built. And Red Hill has served our armed forces well for many decades.
“But it makes a lot less sense now.”
He said that no later than May 31, the Secretary of the Navy and Defense Logistics Agency will provide a plan for “safe and expeditious defueling of the facility, with a completion target of 12 months.”
“But it makes a lot less sense now.”
He said that no later than May 31, the Secretary of the Navy and Defense Logistics Agency will provide a plan for “safe and expeditious defueling of the facility, with a completion target of 12 months.”
By HNN Staff
Published: Mar. 7, 2022 at 9:25 AM HST
Fuel in water deepens Native Hawaiians’ distrust of military
Representative Kai Kahele sponsored the Red Hill WAI Act
A wellknown adage in Hawaiian, ola i ka wai, means “water is life.”
Native Hawaiians revere water in all its forms as the embodiment of one of the Hawaiian pantheon’s four principal gods.
The resource is so valuable that to have it in abundance means prosperity. The Hawaiian word for water — wai — is repeated in the word for wealth — waiwai.
So when the Navy confirmed petroleum from one of its fuel tank facilities had leaked into Pearl Harbor’s tap water, many Native Hawaiians were not just concerned, they were hurt and offended.
“This has been the most egregious assault on a public trust resource in the history of Hawaii,” said Kamanamaikalani Beamer, a former trustee of the Commission on Water Resource Management.
Native Hawaiians revere water in all its forms as the embodiment of one of the Hawaiian pantheon’s four principal gods.
The resource is so valuable that to have it in abundance means prosperity. The Hawaiian word for water — wai — is repeated in the word for wealth — waiwai.
So when the Navy confirmed petroleum from one of its fuel tank facilities had leaked into Pearl Harbor’s tap water, many Native Hawaiians were not just concerned, they were hurt and offended.
“This has been the most egregious assault on a public trust resource in the history of Hawaii,” said Kamanamaikalani Beamer, a former trustee of the Commission on Water Resource Management.
Nearly 6,000 people, mostly those living in military housing at or near Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, got sick after petroleum-laced water came pouring out of their taps late last year. Residents worry fresh water for broader Oahu also is in danger because the aging tank system sits above an aquifer that provides drinking water to most of the island and has a history of leaks.
The Navy is working to address the problem. But many say it has deepened a distrust in the military that dates to at least 1893, when a group of American businessmen, with support from U.S. Marines, overthrew the Hawaiian kingdom. More recently, Native Hawaiians fought to stop target practice bombing on the island of Kahoolawe and at Makua Valley in west Oahu.
“The military has a long history of poor stewardship of Hawaii’s natural and cultural resources,” Carmen Hulu Lindsey, chair of the board of trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, said in an email in response to questions. “Time after time the people of Hawaii have been left to clean up after the military ravages our sacred lands — from unexploded ordnance and toxic waste to the loss of cultural and historic sites and endangered species — without even appropriating resources to finance these efforts.”
For some, the water contamination was the last straw.
The crisis has “shattered people’s trust in the military,” said Kawena‘ulaokala Kapahua, a Native Hawaiian political science doctoral student and one of the activists pushing to shut down the tank facility.
“I think this is really pushing people to the edge because we all need water to live,” Kapahua said. “And I think it’s a very scary thought for people that their children or their grandchildren may never be able to drink the water that comes out of the tap.”
Navy officials seemed aware of the distrust when they testified to members of Congress in January.
“I understand the deep connection that the people of Hawaii, particularly the Native Hawaiian community, have with the lands and waters of Hawaii,” Rear Adm. Blake Converse, deputy commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, said while noting he lived in Hawaii off and on for more than eight years.
Rear Adm. John Korka, commander of Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command, also noted his connection to the islands, sharing which church he worshipped in and the Catholic school his children attended while living in Hawaii. “This is a personal issue for me, and I’m sorry.”
Using 2019 Census data, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs estimates that 3,439 Native Hawaiians across the United States serve in the armed forces, which is 0.8% of the total Native Hawaiian adult population in the U.S.
Many see value in the state’s relationship with the military, which also provides civilian jobs that are considered desirable alternatives to service work in the tourism industry.
Native Hawaiian Vietnam War veteran Shad Kane said he is troubled by the contaminated water, but it hasn’t tested his faith in the military. His trusty pickup truck bears special Hawaii license plates indicating he’s a combat veteran. He plans to transfer the plates to his new Toyota Tacoma.
“Yes, I’m bothered by that, but I also know the Navy has a greater responsibility,” Kane said. “The Navy wants to do the right thing.”
The Navy hasn’t determined how petroleum got in the water. Officials are investigating a theory that jet fuel spilled from a ruptured pipe last May and somehow entered a fire suppression system drain pipe. They suspect fuel then leaked from the second pipe Nov. 20, sending it into the drinking water well.
The Navy has been trying to clear petroleum from the contaminated well and pump it out of the aquifer. Officials are also flushing clean water through the Navy’s water system — which serves 93,000 people in military homes and offices in and around Pearl Harbor. In the meantime, the Navy put up affected military families in Waikiki hotels.
Beamer, the former water commission trustee, had been calling for the decommissioning of the tanks since 2014, when more than 27,000 gallons of fuel leaked from one of tanks.
The Navy “promised us nothing like this would possibly happen,” he recalled. “They would never risk the lives of their own. … They drink out of the same aquifer.”
After initially resisting, the Navy said in January it would comply with Hawaii’s order to remove fuel from the tank facility, which is used to power many U.S. military ships and planes that patrol the Pacific Ocean. But in February, the Navy lodged an appeal in court.
Rear Adm. Tim Kott, commander of Navy Region Hawaii, said in a statement this week that Navy officials will continue to work with, listen to and learn from the Native Hawaiian community.
“We know we have a lot of work ahead of us to gain the trust of the communities across the island, and in particular Native Hawaiians,” he said. “We will continue to work tirelessly to restore community trust and the safe drinking water of our families and neighbors.”
U.S. Rep. Kai Kahele, a combat pilot who serves as an officer in the Hawaii National Guard, has invoked the Hawaiian word hewa, which can mean sinful or wrong, to describe the Navy water contamination. He has also called it “crisis of astronomical proportions.”
He traces his Native Hawaiian family’s roots to a small fishing village near the southern tip of Hawaii’s Big Island where there’s no running water and residents rely on catching rain.
Elders instilled in him that every drop is precious.
“All life originated through having healthy, fresh water,” Kahele said.
The Navy is working to address the problem. But many say it has deepened a distrust in the military that dates to at least 1893, when a group of American businessmen, with support from U.S. Marines, overthrew the Hawaiian kingdom. More recently, Native Hawaiians fought to stop target practice bombing on the island of Kahoolawe and at Makua Valley in west Oahu.
“The military has a long history of poor stewardship of Hawaii’s natural and cultural resources,” Carmen Hulu Lindsey, chair of the board of trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, said in an email in response to questions. “Time after time the people of Hawaii have been left to clean up after the military ravages our sacred lands — from unexploded ordnance and toxic waste to the loss of cultural and historic sites and endangered species — without even appropriating resources to finance these efforts.”
For some, the water contamination was the last straw.
The crisis has “shattered people’s trust in the military,” said Kawena‘ulaokala Kapahua, a Native Hawaiian political science doctoral student and one of the activists pushing to shut down the tank facility.
“I think this is really pushing people to the edge because we all need water to live,” Kapahua said. “And I think it’s a very scary thought for people that their children or their grandchildren may never be able to drink the water that comes out of the tap.”
Navy officials seemed aware of the distrust when they testified to members of Congress in January.
“I understand the deep connection that the people of Hawaii, particularly the Native Hawaiian community, have with the lands and waters of Hawaii,” Rear Adm. Blake Converse, deputy commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, said while noting he lived in Hawaii off and on for more than eight years.
Rear Adm. John Korka, commander of Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command, also noted his connection to the islands, sharing which church he worshipped in and the Catholic school his children attended while living in Hawaii. “This is a personal issue for me, and I’m sorry.”
Using 2019 Census data, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs estimates that 3,439 Native Hawaiians across the United States serve in the armed forces, which is 0.8% of the total Native Hawaiian adult population in the U.S.
Many see value in the state’s relationship with the military, which also provides civilian jobs that are considered desirable alternatives to service work in the tourism industry.
Native Hawaiian Vietnam War veteran Shad Kane said he is troubled by the contaminated water, but it hasn’t tested his faith in the military. His trusty pickup truck bears special Hawaii license plates indicating he’s a combat veteran. He plans to transfer the plates to his new Toyota Tacoma.
“Yes, I’m bothered by that, but I also know the Navy has a greater responsibility,” Kane said. “The Navy wants to do the right thing.”
The Navy hasn’t determined how petroleum got in the water. Officials are investigating a theory that jet fuel spilled from a ruptured pipe last May and somehow entered a fire suppression system drain pipe. They suspect fuel then leaked from the second pipe Nov. 20, sending it into the drinking water well.
The Navy has been trying to clear petroleum from the contaminated well and pump it out of the aquifer. Officials are also flushing clean water through the Navy’s water system — which serves 93,000 people in military homes and offices in and around Pearl Harbor. In the meantime, the Navy put up affected military families in Waikiki hotels.
Beamer, the former water commission trustee, had been calling for the decommissioning of the tanks since 2014, when more than 27,000 gallons of fuel leaked from one of tanks.
The Navy “promised us nothing like this would possibly happen,” he recalled. “They would never risk the lives of their own. … They drink out of the same aquifer.”
After initially resisting, the Navy said in January it would comply with Hawaii’s order to remove fuel from the tank facility, which is used to power many U.S. military ships and planes that patrol the Pacific Ocean. But in February, the Navy lodged an appeal in court.
Rear Adm. Tim Kott, commander of Navy Region Hawaii, said in a statement this week that Navy officials will continue to work with, listen to and learn from the Native Hawaiian community.
“We know we have a lot of work ahead of us to gain the trust of the communities across the island, and in particular Native Hawaiians,” he said. “We will continue to work tirelessly to restore community trust and the safe drinking water of our families and neighbors.”
U.S. Rep. Kai Kahele, a combat pilot who serves as an officer in the Hawaii National Guard, has invoked the Hawaiian word hewa, which can mean sinful or wrong, to describe the Navy water contamination. He has also called it “crisis of astronomical proportions.”
He traces his Native Hawaiian family’s roots to a small fishing village near the southern tip of Hawaii’s Big Island where there’s no running water and residents rely on catching rain.
Elders instilled in him that every drop is precious.
“All life originated through having healthy, fresh water,” Kahele said.
By JENNIFER SINCO KELLEHER
Associated Press
Associated Press
EPA Administrator Regan, Regional Administrator Guzman visit Hawaii,
highlight oversight and drinking water emergency response
Feb 28, 2022
highlight oversight and drinking water emergency response
Feb 28, 2022
The head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said it will conduct an investigation
of the fuel leak at the Navy’s Red Hill fuel storage facility that contaminated the drinking water supply.
It’s the latest in a long list of investigations at the city, state and federal levels.
But the EPA is uniquely suited for the job, because it is responsible for enforcing the nation’s Clean Water Act.
of the fuel leak at the Navy’s Red Hill fuel storage facility that contaminated the drinking water supply.
It’s the latest in a long list of investigations at the city, state and federal levels.
But the EPA is uniquely suited for the job, because it is responsible for enforcing the nation’s Clean Water Act.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In case you missed it, Administrator Regan and Regional Administrator Martha Guzman traveled to O‘ahu, Hawaii, last week to see firsthand the ongoing work in response to the drinking water emergency and to engage directly with the community and stakeholders. While in Hawaii, the Administrator and Regional Administrator met with residents directly impacted by the drinking water emergency, toured the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility, visited the Interagency Drinking Water Systems Team, visited a community assistance center, addressed the media, and met with key leaders and agencies including Governor David Ige, the Hawaii Department of Health, Senator Brian Schatz, Senator Mazie Hirono, Congressman Ed Case, local officials, and military leaders.
Administrator Regan emphasized EPA’s commitment to clean drinking water for the community and all Hawaii residents, as well as EPA’s role as an independent regulatory agency. EPA is launching an inspection of the Red Hill facility today.
Administrator Regan emphasized EPA’s commitment to clean drinking water for the community and all Hawaii residents, as well as EPA’s role as an independent regulatory agency. EPA is launching an inspection of the Red Hill facility today.
EPA to eye Hawaii fuel tank operations after water tainted.
The top official at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said Thursday an upcoming inspection of a Navy fuel tank facility that leaked petroleum into Pearl Harbor’s tap water will look at whether the tank farm was properly operated.
“We’re going to ... really look very closely at whether or not the facility has operated within the guidelines of the law. And if it hasn’t, then we will have to make some corrections there,” Michael S. Regan, the EPA’s administrator, told reporters at a news conference. Regan was in Hawaii for a two-day visit to see the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility and meet officials about the water contamination crisis. The EPA’s inspection of the Red Hill tank facility is scheduled to begin next week.
The top official at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said Thursday an upcoming inspection of a Navy fuel tank facility that leaked petroleum into Pearl Harbor’s tap water will look at whether the tank farm was properly operated.
“We’re going to ... really look very closely at whether or not the facility has operated within the guidelines of the law. And if it hasn’t, then we will have to make some corrections there,” Michael S. Regan, the EPA’s administrator, told reporters at a news conference. Regan was in Hawaii for a two-day visit to see the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility and meet officials about the water contamination crisis. The EPA’s inspection of the Red Hill tank facility is scheduled to begin next week.
“At the end of the day, no family should have to
question the quality of their drinking water,” Regan said.
There's no need to travel past Pahoa's turn-about to purchase your filters.
Uncle Tilo's Clean Water offers these filters at the best price.
When it comes to replacement filters, finding the right match can be time-consuming.
Everyone's home and business require different filtration solutions to achieve remarkable water quality.
At Uncle Tilo’s Clean Water LLC, we strive to provide our community with filters at the best prices.
We house several replacement water filters on-hand at our storefront in the Pahoa Marketplace.
We want to provide you with a seamless purchasing experience, and
peace of mind knowing you'll be supporting a small local business.
So, when you driving uptown to Pahoa stop by the storefront and pick up your filters at
Uncle Tilo’s Clean Water LLC, you’ll save time, money and energy!
February 10, 2022
Marine Corps Discharged High Levels Of Fecal Bacteria Into Kailua Bay
It’s not the first time the Marine Corps has released
wastewater into Kailua Bay in violation of its permit.
It’s not the first time the Marine Corps has reported a
fecal bacteria exceedance in Kailua.
Overages were reported last year, in August and October.
“We absolutely take seriously our responsibility to protect the environment,” Abrams said. “Things like this will happen, but fortunately, there really isn’t a danger to the community based on this type of overage.”
The facility discharges an average of 2.7 million gallons per day, according to the Hawaii Department of Health.
The Marine Corps issued a press release on Wednesday reporting an “exceedance” of enterococci, an indicator of human fecal contamination, from its water reclamation facility.
The military did not offer more details about how the mishap occurred, and Marine spokesman Capt. Eric Abrams was unable to explain on Thursday afternoon.
The military is allowed a maximum daily discharge limit of 57,850 colony-forming units, or CFUs, per milliliter, but discharged at an estimated 70,000 CFUs per milliliter. The facility discharges an average of 2.7 million gallons per day, according to the Hawaii Department of Health.
Warning signs have been posted, and the public should avoid the waters near the Mokapu Outfall until the signs are removed, DOH said.
The public is being advised to avoid the waters in Kailua Bay after the Marine Corps water treatment facility discharged into the ocean wastewater that contained high levels of fecal bacteria.
The discharge was reported to the state Department of Health on Tuesday. The Marine Corps has identified “ongoing maintenance activity in the plant polishing pond” as the cause of the mishap, according to a press release.
Alec Wong, a representative of the DOH Clean Water Branch, said in a statement on Thursday that the state will investigate the cause and will “take action accordingly.”
“While this is not the same level of threat as a sewage spill directly into the ocean, discharge of wastewater that does not meet permitted effluent limits is prohibited,” he said. “DOH considers this kind of effluent exceedance as unacceptable, particularly considering the Marine Corps Base Hawaii has reported similar effluent in recent months.”
Avoid the water in Kailua Bay, DOH says. The Marine Corps issued a press release on Wednesday reporting an “exceedance” of enterococci, an indicator of human fecal contamination, from its water reclamation facility.
The military did not offer more details about how the mishap occurred, and Marine spokesman Capt. Eric Abrams was unable to explain on Thursday afternoon.
The military is allowed a maximum daily discharge limit of 57,850 colony-forming units, or CFUs, per milliliter, but discharged at an estimated 70,000 CFUs per milliliter. The facility discharges an average of 2.7 million gallons per day, according to the Hawaii Department of Health.
Warning signs have been posted, and the public should avoid the waters near the Mokapu Outfall until the signs are removed, DOH said.
In the press release, the Marines said that the maintenance work is “required to ensure the (Water Reclamation Facility) continues to operate effectively.”
“Honestly, it wasn’t necessarily a surprise that there was an overage there because of the maintenance that was being conducted at the time,” Abrams said.
It’s not the first time the Marine Corps has reported a fecal bacteria exceedance in Kailua. Overages were reported last year, in August and October.
The “good news,” according to Abrams, is that the Marine Corps’ effluent is combined with treated water from the city’s Kailua Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant, and the military’s portion makes up only 10% of the total.
“So just because we were over doesn’t mean that the discharged amount ended up being over,” Abrams said.
The combined wastewater is released approximately two miles off-shore of the Marine Corps base at 110 feet below the surface of the ocean.
According to the Marine Corps, the direct risk of exposure to people in the water is “extremely low.”
The Marine Corps said that “the disrupting activities have been completed,” and that it is doing daily sampling to monitor the situation until levels return to normal.
The military’s stewardship of Hawaii’s environment has been criticized for years and has intensified recently amid the Navy’s fuel contamination of its Pearl Harbor area drinking water supply.
“We absolutely take seriously our responsibility to protect the environment,” Abrams said. “Things like this will happen, but fortunately, there really isn’t a danger to the community based on this type of overage.”
The public is advised to remain out of the coastal waters near Kulaimano Homestead Road in Pepe'ekeo, island of Hawaii, due to a wastewater discharge.
Details are as follows:
Event: wastewater discharge of undisinfected effluent
Volume: estimated at 1,055 gallons
Location: Kulaimano Wastewater Treatment Plant
Affected waterbody: coastal waters near Kulaimano Homestead road
Time of discharge: 2:07 pm
Status of event: undisinfected discharge stopped
Signage: Warning signs have been posted
The public is advised to remain out of the affected waters until the warning signs have been removed.
Event: wastewater discharge of undisinfected effluent
Volume: estimated at 1,055 gallons
Location: Kulaimano Wastewater Treatment Plant
Affected waterbody: coastal waters near Kulaimano Homestead road
Time of discharge: 2:07 pm
Status of event: undisinfected discharge stopped
Signage: Warning signs have been posted
The public is advised to remain out of the affected waters until the warning signs have been removed.
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"Class B UV lights operate at a lower intensity and are made for treated water, such as county or city water....."
There are options for pathogen free water.
Heavy Wave Action
Heavy wave action has resulted in sediment and potentially harmful pollutants entering into coastal waters.
The public is advised to stay out of coastal runoff waters due to possible pesticides, animal fecal matter, dead animals, pathogens, chemicals, and debris. Not all coastal areas may be impacted by runoff, however, if the water is brown stay out.
Continue to practice good personal hygiene and follow-up with your primary care physician if you have any health concerns.
The public is advised to stay out of coastal runoff waters due to possible pesticides, animal fecal matter, dead animals, pathogens, chemicals, and debris. Not all coastal areas may be impacted by runoff, however, if the water is brown stay out.
Continue to practice good personal hygiene and follow-up with your primary care physician if you have any health concerns.
HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY UPDATE
Monday, January 31, 2022, 8:38 AM HST
KILAUEA VOLCANO (VNUM #332010)
19°25'16" N 155°17'13" W, Summit Elevation 4091 ft (1247 m)
Current Volcano Alert Level: WATCH
Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE
Activity Summary: Eruption of lava from the west vent within Halemaʻumaʻu crater, at the summit of Kīlauea, resumed at approximately 9:30 p.m. HST yesterday, January 30, 2022. All recent lava activity has been confined to the crater, and there are no indications of activity migrating elsewhere on Kīlauea.
Monday, January 31, 2022, 8:38 AM HST
KILAUEA VOLCANO (VNUM #332010)
19°25'16" N 155°17'13" W, Summit Elevation 4091 ft (1247 m)
Current Volcano Alert Level: WATCH
Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE
Activity Summary: Eruption of lava from the west vent within Halemaʻumaʻu crater, at the summit of Kīlauea, resumed at approximately 9:30 p.m. HST yesterday, January 30, 2022. All recent lava activity has been confined to the crater, and there are no indications of activity migrating elsewhere on Kīlauea.
Kilauea volcano and the impact to Rainwater Harvesters
Do not panic, all recent lava activity has been confined to the crater.
This message is designed to educate and be prepared when/if the volcano changes.
This message is designed to educate and be prepared when/if the volcano changes.
DURING VOLCANIC ACTIVITY
In the event, ash, laze, and Pele's Hair have been found to contain carious metal and are hazardous to ingest,
catchment users should avoid accumulating it in their catchment tanks.
catchment users should avoid accumulating it in their catchment tanks.
- Temporarily disconnect your catchment system from the roof until rain has flushed your roof and any ash deposits. Don't reconnect the system until the deposits are washed off the roof and out of your gutters.
- Check your gutters, especially if they do not slope, as ash may collect in them. Clean out any ash deposits in the gutters to keep water from mixing with the ash and leaching metals into the catchment water.
- Use a free-standing or self-supporting canopy to cover mesh tank covers so less debris will get in.
- If you do not have a first-flush device, disconnect your downspout from the tank until the roof has had a chance to wash off, then reconnect to catch the cleaner rain.
- Dissolve baking soda in water and add it to your tank to raise the pH of the water, and/or add Uncle Tilo's Acid Rain Mineral Pack. This assists in the prevention of copper and lead from leaching from pipes and fixtures into your water. You can also purchase filters to remove lead and copper.
- Check all water filters regularly to make sure that they can still filter out debris. Keep extra sediment filters on hand for heavy ash fall.
- Pre-tank filters help keep out larger insoluble debris. you might secure a nylon stocking to the end of the downspout (where it goes into the tank) to collect debris. Be sure the stocking is very secure because the weight of the debris and the force of the water will knock off a stocking that is merely tied on. Check on it when doing monthly maintenance.
These measures will help your water stay cleaner, which keeps you in better health.
For more information or questions, please call us at 808.965.1026. Email us at Uncle.tilo@gmail.com
For more information or questions, please call us at 808.965.1026. Email us at Uncle.tilo@gmail.com
In addition to the above special precautions, remember to routinely perform the three
P’s for residential rainwater catchment systems: Prevent, Protect & Prove.
P’s for residential rainwater catchment systems: Prevent, Protect & Prove.
PREVENT CONTAMINATION OF YOUR WATER THROUGH
FREQUENT AND PROPER MAINTENANCE
• Remove any dirt, debris, or other litter from your roof, gutters, or inside your water tank
• Trim or remove any plants or trees that overhang your home
• Make sure that your water tank cover and vent screens are secure and not broken or cracked
• Frequently change your sediment and carbon filters, clean the filter housing before inserting new filter
• Use nonmetal plumbing materials and fixtures that are ANSI/NSF Standard 61 certified to reduce the levels of metals that can be leached out by acidic catchment water. Brass fitting can leach lead into the water if water is not treated with minerals.
• Use first flush diverters to help reduce the amount of debris entering the tank
• Install a floating intake line
• Add a bag to overflow pipe and intake line
PROTECT YOURSELF FROM HARMFUL CONTAMINANTS
BY TREATING YOUR WATER
Carefully read and follow the water treatment device manufacturer’s instructions or operating manual for correct installation, operation, and maintenance.
Disinfection is strongly recommended for catchment water supplies. A suggested starting point would be to add 2 ounces of unscented household bleach per 1,000 gallons of water in the tank, mix thoroughly, measure free chlorine residual, and repeat the dosing/mixing/measuring process until there is about 1 ppm of free chlorine in the tank. Perform as often as needed to maintain that level.
Minerals, add baking soda by dissolving and mixing into tank or Uncle Tilo's Acid Rain Mineral Pack with pool float.
If you have a Ultraviolet (UV) disinfection system, a Class A system for household use and consumption, regularly wipe down the light bulb to remove any mineral buildup. Check the light bulb to make sure that it is working properly and replace bulbs as recommended by the manufacturer.
Disinfection is strongly recommended for catchment water supplies. A suggested starting point would be to add 2 ounces of unscented household bleach per 1,000 gallons of water in the tank, mix thoroughly, measure free chlorine residual, and repeat the dosing/mixing/measuring process until there is about 1 ppm of free chlorine in the tank. Perform as often as needed to maintain that level.
Minerals, add baking soda by dissolving and mixing into tank or Uncle Tilo's Acid Rain Mineral Pack with pool float.
If you have a Ultraviolet (UV) disinfection system, a Class A system for household use and consumption, regularly wipe down the light bulb to remove any mineral buildup. Check the light bulb to make sure that it is working properly and replace bulbs as recommended by the manufacturer.
Prove the effectiveness of your prevention and protection
efforts through yearly testing
Testing is the only way to verify if your catchment treatment and maintenance is working. Bacteria test kits for E coli and Coliform and pH test strips are simple to use and readily available at Uncle Tilo's Clean Water. This helps those who regularly disinfect with unscented chlorine bleach. This also helps those who try to adjust the pH and alkalinity of acidic rain by adding baking soda or Uncle Tilo's Acid Rain Mineral Pack.
CAUTION: Test kits do not replace testing by a laboratory certified for testing specific drinking water contaminants. Kits for lead and other contaminants can be found in local hardware stores and can be used as a screening tool to determine if a larger problem may exist requiring more accurate testing by a certified lab.
Mark Your Calendar for First Saturday Free Clean Water Class
A Hui Hou
Rainwater Harvester Beware!
It's important to know if lead, copper or brass fittings are in your system.
Hawai`i's Acid Rain for Catchment Tanks
Many questions have come up lately about the pH (a measure of acidity or alkalinity) in our catchment systems,
we want to give you more detail on how acid rain can affect you through catchment water.
Many questions have come up lately about the pH (a measure of acidity or alkalinity) in our catchment systems,
we want to give you more detail on how acid rain can affect you through catchment water.
In Hawai`i, the biggest cause of acid rain is from our volcanoes, which release sulfur dioxides and trioxides into the air. These oxides, in a series of reactions in the atmosphere, combine with water molecules and form dilute acids which return to earth as acid rain. Usually Hawai`i's acid rain contains sulfuric acid where other types of air pollution can create nitric acid.
It is vital to add minerals to coat lead, copper and brass fittings on catchment systems assisting in the prevention of lead in the water. Different locations may require different amounts of mineral treatment. The pH scale measures how acidic or basic something is. This logarithmic scale goes from 0-14. Numbers below 7 are considered acidic and above 7 are basic. Seven is neutral. Less than 5.6 is considered “acid rain.”
It is vital to add minerals to coat lead, copper and brass fittings on catchment systems assisting in the prevention of lead in the water. Different locations may require different amounts of mineral treatment. The pH scale measures how acidic or basic something is. This logarithmic scale goes from 0-14. Numbers below 7 are considered acidic and above 7 are basic. Seven is neutral. Less than 5.6 is considered “acid rain.”
How to raise the pH levels in your catchment tank
If you need to raise the pH in your water, dissolve sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) in a bucket of water and add it to the tank. Depending on the acidity of your water and size of your tank the method is -- 40 ppm x how many gallons of water divided by 7 = how many pounds to dissolve. Too much baking soda will make your water start to feel very soft or slimy. The baking soda also adds salt into your water, just like commercial water softeners do, and may be a problem for people on restricted salt diets.
Another product you can add is food-grade calcium carbonate granules, which are available from chemical supply companies and some local suppliers. Large solids of calcium carbonate, like limestone rocks, are not effective because the sulfur coats the surfaces and does not wash off. With limestone granules, the surface area is much larger, so they will work longer.
Uncle Tilo's Acid Rain Mineral Pack
| Rainwater can dissolve heavy metals and other impurities from the roofing materials of the catchment all the way to the faucet, including storage tank. Rainwater lacks minerals, but some minerals, such as calcium, magnesium, iron and fluoride, in appropriate concentrations are considered very essential for health. By adding mineral to the catchment and storage tank, the ph of the water is raised, making the water less acidic. | Acid Rain Mineral Packs contain calcite (calcium carbonate) and corosex (magnesium oxide). When added to a catchment tank in a pool float, these minerals are gradually absorbed into the water as needed. And because the water only absorbs what it needs, the Acid Rain Mineral Pack can last for 6-9 months in a 10,000 gallon tank. |
Acid Rain Mineral Packs can be found under the Products tab.
For those on municipal water
The American Society of Civil Engineers has long advocated for the improved safety of America’s drinking water systems. Access to clean and safe drinking water is critical to public health and economic prosperity, and ASCE’s 2021 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure gave a grade of C- for the drinking water category.
It is estimated that as many as 10 million American households still have lead water pipes in use, which can put at risk the health and safety of families, particularly children. For utilities, moving forward with completing an inventory of lead service lines as part of the Lead and Copper Rule is a critical step, so we can get a better national picture of the scope of the problem.
On December 17, 2021 issued a statement in support of the Lead Pipe Action Plan released a day earlier by the Environmental Protection Agency to help communities across the country remove lead pipes out of their drinking water systems.
This plan will allocate nearly $3 billion from the recently passed Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) to states for lead service line replacements in FY 2022 and will prioritize communities with the highest lead levels. While additional investment will be needed, it is a significant down-payment on a national shared priority of clean drinking water for all Americans. It will allow utilities of all sizes to accelerate their rate of lead pipe replacement and offer technical assistance to those communities just embarking on these types of projects.
Bring your old UV Bulbs to Uncle Tilo's Clean Water class
Saturday, February 5 and we'll take them into Hilo for you!
It is important to know the difference between
Class A or Class B Water Treatment.
University of Hawaii, Manoa
College of Tropical Agriculture & Human Resources
Hawaii County Cooperative Extension Service
 |  |
For those of you on Class B UV Systems....
It's time to upgrade to Quantum Disinfection.
After all, the quality of your water is a direct link to the quality of your health.
Know your filters and what they do
Filters come in various types and sizes and do different things.
Bigger isn't always better especially when it comes to water filters!
| No single filter will take care of all your water treatment needs. A filter is basically a screen that catches particles in water and still lets the water run through. Filters with smaller screen or micron sizes trap more debris, but the small size restricts water flow, and the filter clogs sooner and has to be changed more often. The amount of particulate matter caught in your system; roof, gutters, and tank also determines how often you need to change the filters. Filters can harbor bacterial growth, so it is important to maintain and change them regularly. According to Patricia Macomber with the College of Tropical Agriculture at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa, once a month is the standard for sediment filters, but that varies depending on the size of the filter and your system’s conditions. | Most filter holes are too large to keep microorganisms from passing through with the water, so you are not safe from pathogens just because you have a filter. You should understand exactly what you want your filter to do, then purchase one that does it. Water pressure can force larger particles through pore (hole) sizes that would normally be too small. As pressure builds behind a dirty filter, more particles will get pushed through the filter. Therefore, pore size and filter function are not absolute; as the filter ages, the material in it can stretch, wear down, or tear. This is another reason to change filters on a regular basis. We often hear the string and paper filters are considered 'forever' filters because they never fill up or influence water pressure. |
Sediment Filters
Sediment filter act by catching the larger particles of debris. You can buy filters of various micron sizes.
Common ones range from 20 to 30 microns in micron diameter, although they come in smaller micron sizes too.
The smaller the holes, the less water pressure is available at the faucet.
Sediment filters are not designed to filter out chemicals or pathogens.
Common ones range from 20 to 30 microns in micron diameter, although they come in smaller micron sizes too.
The smaller the holes, the less water pressure is available at the faucet.
Sediment filters are not designed to filter out chemicals or pathogens.
Sediment filters remove suspended matter such as sand, silt, loose scale, clay, or organic material from the water.
Untreated water passes through a filter medium, which traps suspended matter on the surface or within the filter.
There are three popular sediment filters: Paper Pleated, Yarn String, and Polypropylene.
Untreated water passes through a filter medium, which traps suspended matter on the surface or within the filter.
There are three popular sediment filters: Paper Pleated, Yarn String, and Polypropylene.
Pleated Paper Filter Yarn Wound Filter Polypropylene Filter
Pleated Paper Filter
Pleated filters are a method for filtering dirt, sand, silt and sediment or as a pre-filter for a larger system. These type of sediment filters have an increased surface area. Most are 100% synthetic filter media and is cleanable, (not recommended). They come in five micron and up.
String Filter
Yarn Wound filter cartridge is a type of depth cartridge filter that is made by weaving yarn around a core. Microfibers are twisted and twined together to form a yarn. This yarn is woven in a honeycomb-shaped weave around the core such that it forms a gradient structure to allow filtration. Microorganisms have been know to pass through the yarn. Comes in five micron and up.
Polypropylene Filter
High purity pleated polypropylene filter media provides a high area, 100% polypropylene element for removal of fine or coarse particulate from fluid streams. The media is encapsulated in an integral, continuous length, thermally-bonded structure for cleanliness, pressure tolerance, and chemical inertness. Removes dirt, sand, silt, rust and scale particles.
Carbon Filters
There are many carbon options, but only one Carbon Block. Optimum size is 5 microns.
Carbon filters can effectively remove or reduce many contaminants from water
including VOCs, chlorine, lead, fluoride, pesticides and much more. They come in a variety of micron sizes.
including VOCs, chlorine, lead, fluoride, pesticides and much more. They come in a variety of micron sizes.
Granular Activated Carbon Block Filters
What is granular activated carbon? Granular activated carbon, or GAC, is made from organic materials (such as coconut shells or coal) that are high in carbon. Heat, in the absence of oxygen, is used to increase (activate) the surface area of the carbon; this is why these filters are sometimes referred to as “charcoal” filters. The activated carbon removes certain chemicals that are dissolved in water passing through a filter containing GAC by trapping (adsorbing) the chemical in the GAC.
A filter with granular activated carbon (GAC) is a proven option to remove certain chemicals, particularly organic chemicals, from water. GAC filters also can be used to remove chemicals that give objectionable odors or tastes to water such as hydrogen sulfide (rotten eggs odor) or chlorine, insecticides, Benzene and other organic chemicals.
A filter with granular activated carbon (GAC) is a proven option to remove certain chemicals, particularly organic chemicals, from water. GAC filters also can be used to remove chemicals that give objectionable odors or tastes to water such as hydrogen sulfide (rotten eggs odor) or chlorine, insecticides, Benzene and other organic chemicals.
The polypropylene 20 micron filter is the sediment filter Uncle Tilo recommends with the Clean Water Filter Pack, once the filter is full the water pressure will go down drawing your attention to change it. Keeping the roof, gutters and tank fairly clean and treated it is recommended to change every 3 months.
The 5 Micron 100% Coconut Shell Carbon filter is the carbon filter Uncle Tilo recommends with the Clean Water Filter Pack, together with the polypropylene filter. Again keeping the roof, gutters and tank fairly clean and treated it is recommended to change every 6 months.
The 5 Micron 100% Coconut Shell Carbon filter is the carbon filter Uncle Tilo recommends with the Clean Water Filter Pack, together with the polypropylene filter. Again keeping the roof, gutters and tank fairly clean and treated it is recommended to change every 6 months.
The Clean Water Filter Pack with Quantum Disinfection lends itself as a whole-house filter system
treating all water traveling to any faucet or fixture in the home. It removes the chemicals and pathogens
before it can be swallowed, breathed in, or absorbed by the skin during any use.
Regardless if you have a UV system or Quantum Disinfection, both units require appropriate filters for them to function properly.
Drinking Water Testing for Hawaii Island residents
Aloha!
Faculty at the University of Hawaii at Hilo have received funding from the National Science Foundation to pilot test drinking water from approximately 20 home-owners across the Big Island who get their drinking water from an individual water catchment system or well. To learn about opportunities to have your home drinking water tested for biological and chemical contaminants (e.g., rat lungworm disease parasite, herbicides, pesticides, etc.) and/or to receive a copy of the research results when published, please review the following:
In order to be considered to have your home drinking water tested, you must:
- Be 18 or older
- Own (not rent) your home on the Big Island
If you are selected to have your water tested for this current project, you will receive an email with the consent information below and will be asked to schedule time to review and discuss the information with one or more research team members before you make a decision about whether to participate.
For additional details & sign up, go to link below:
New prices begin February 1, 2022
Dear Valued Client,
We’re reaching out to advise you that there will be an increase on products and services, to be put into effect on February 1, 2022. This increase is due to the ever-rising cost of Covid.
Uncle Tilo’s Clean Water LLC is committed to offering you the quality you expect and deserve. We have found a way to minimize the price increase while still sourcing the best possible products and maintaining the highest standards in customer service to keep the high quality that you’ve come to expect from us and are accustomed to.
All orders made before February 1, 2022, will be honored with the current price, so we highly encourage you to order soon to take advantage of this.
Uncle Tilo’s Clean Water LLC greatly appreciates your continued business and support through this time of change. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this price increase, please do not hesitate to reach out. Our team is more than happy to discuss this situation with you.
Uncle Tilo & Team
IS DISTILLED WATER SAFE TO DRINK?
Yes, but it is not recommended.
Reverse Osmosis removes some chemicals and contaminants,
the distillation process also removes the beneficial minerals,
such as magnesium and calcium from the water.
the distillation process also removes the beneficial minerals,
such as magnesium and calcium from the water.
WHAT IS DISTILLED WATER?
IS IT BETTER FOR YOU THAN MINERAL WATER?
Water is the most essential aspect of all life forms. Up to 70% of the human body is made up of water. Today, there are various types of water and water filters available. Whether water comes from tap water, bottled water, spring water, soft water, a refrigerator filter, distillation, reverse osmosis, we should be extremely conscious of the quality of water that we are putting into our bodies. Distilled water specifically is interesting as the distillation process does purify water removing 99.9%+ of contaminants, but it also poses health risks. But first, what is distilled water?
HOW IS DISTILLED WATER MADE?
Distilled water is created by heating and boiling the water to its boiling point and collecting evaporated steam. When water evaporates and creates steam, it separates pure water from dissolved solids and contaminants. Collecting the steam leaves you with a pure form of filtered water that has not only been stripped of some contaminants but also beneficial minerals and vital nutrients as well. This type of water is often called dead water or acidic water, as all impurities, chemicals, and minerals are removed.
GREAT, NOW YOU HAVE PURIFIED WATER FREE FROM CHEMICALS AND IMPURITIES, SO WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?
The problem is that while removing the chemicals and contaminants, the distillation process also removes the beneficial minerals, such as magnesium and calcium from the water. When your body loses water through sweating or urinating, you also lose sodium and other valuable minerals. Typically, minerals are replenished through food and water. By only drinking distilled filtered water, you cannot replenish vital minerals through water intake, which may eventually lead to a deficiency.
An increase in urine output could also result in an electrolyte imbalance. It is possible to regain some of these minerals through food in a well-balanced diet, however, when cooking these foods, mineral loss from the cooking process can be up to 70%! Your body also absorbs more minerals out of water than food, so it is important for minerals in your water to replace what you have lost.
Another adverse aspect of drinking distilled water is the flat taste. This is due to a lack of minerals, metals, and inorganic compounds. Many find this unappealing and in the long term, can lead to a decrease in water consumption. Outside of the negative health effects on your body, distilled water can also have harmful effects on the environment. Once the distillation process is completed and the pure water is collected from steam, it leaves behind highly salinized hard water, that can disrupt the surrounding ecosystem of the water source.
An increase in urine output could also result in an electrolyte imbalance. It is possible to regain some of these minerals through food in a well-balanced diet, however, when cooking these foods, mineral loss from the cooking process can be up to 70%! Your body also absorbs more minerals out of water than food, so it is important for minerals in your water to replace what you have lost.
Another adverse aspect of drinking distilled water is the flat taste. This is due to a lack of minerals, metals, and inorganic compounds. Many find this unappealing and in the long term, can lead to a decrease in water consumption. Outside of the negative health effects on your body, distilled water can also have harmful effects on the environment. Once the distillation process is completed and the pure water is collected from steam, it leaves behind highly salinized hard water, that can disrupt the surrounding ecosystem of the water source.
WHAT IS A GOOD ALTERTERATIVE TO DISTILLED WATER?
The Uncle Tilo’s Clean Water Filter Pack system is a fantastic alternative to providing pathogens free clean water while retaining minerals. There are a few main reasons why we recommend using Uncle Tilo’s Clean Water Filter Pack, the first being the quality of the water. With Quantum Disinfection™ together with a 20-micron sediment filter and a 5-micron 100% Coconut Shell Carbon filter removes chlorine, insecticides, benzene organic chemicals, bad taste, odors and kills viruses, pathogenic bacteria without the need for electric all while leaving in the minerals that your body and plumbing fixtures needs.
Acid Rain Mineral Pack
The Acid Rain Mineral Pack placed inside catchment tanks is desirable for a couple of reasons: One it adds minerals to coat copper, brass fittings and components in the plumbing systems to protect from releasing lead into the water source and adds minerals for a great tasting water source that our bodies require.
Stop using water bottles!
Drink from your tap with Quantum Disinfection
Saves time and money + eco-friendly!
The DOH rejected arguments by the Navy that the state lacks the power to shut down Red Hill.
The Hawaii Department of Health is standing by its order to the Navy to drain the Red Hill fuel facility, where leaks allowed petroleum to contaminate the drinking water of nearly 100,000 people.
DOH Deputy Director Marian Tsuji issued the decision on Monday. It affirms the findings of a hearing officer who listened to 13 hours of testimony in the case and determined last week that the order was legal and necessary.
Military officials and environmental regulators recently signed a water sampling plan. The Red Hill Facility has already damaged human health and the environment and, as currently situated, inevitably threatens to do so into the future,” the hearing officer, David Day, found. “The Navy lacks the ability to control the substantial risks associated with the Red Hill Facility, as currently situated.”
On Tuesday, Tsuji wrote in a three-page decision that Day’s report “accurately and completely states the relevant facts and accurately states the applicable law.” Under the order, the Navy has 30 days to submit a plan to “safely defuel” its World War II-era fuel facility. In a video statement, Deputy Director Kathleen Ho lauded Tsuji’s decision as a step toward protecting drinking water and the environment from “irreparable harm.” “We call upon the Navy to comply with the order without further attempts to delay,” she said. The Navy has already agreed to comply with some parts of the order, including pausing operations at Red Hill and taking steps to establish a water treatment plant. But the military, which considers Red Hill to be a vital national security asset, has strongly protested the demand to drain the fuel entirely.
Marian Tsuji affirmed a Department of Health hearing officer’s decision. In more than 40 pages of legal arguments filed last week, a Navy attorney asserted that the state lacks the power to require the facility’s shutdown, among other objections. The state can only use these emergency powers if people are in “imminent peril,” both sides acknowledge, but the Navy believes that danger does not exist. The Navy can now appeal Tsuji’s decision to the courts, but it’s unclear if it will do so.
In a statement, Cmdr. Reann Mommsen with the Navy Office of Information in Washington D.C. said only: “The Navy is reviewing the decision.” Even if the Navy complies with the order and empties its facility of an estimated 180 million gallons of fuel, the order still leaves open the possibility that the Navy could start using its tanks again at a later time. That would only happen, though, if DOH determines the Navy is able to do so in a way that is “protective of human health and the environment,” according to the order.
Meanwhile, the Navy is engaged in another legal case before DOH in an effort to secure a permit to operate the Red Hill facility. That matter, which is being contested by the Sierra Club of Hawaii and the Honolulu Board of Water Supply, is ongoing.
On Monday afternoon, environmental activists praised Tsuji’s decision.
“This is huge,” Wayne Tanaka, executive director of the Sierra Club of Hawaii, said in a statement. “We commend the Department of Health for taking this critical stand, and urge it to continue holding the Navy’s feet to the fire, until it defuels its decrepit facility and defends us from itself.”
By
By Christina Jedra / January 3, 2022
By Christina Jedra / January 3, 2022
Dear Valued Client,
We’re reaching out to advise you that there will be an increase on products and services, to be put into effect on February 1, 2022. This increase is due to the ever-rising cost of Covid.
Uncle Tilo’s Clean Water LLC is committed to offering you the quality you expect and deserve. We have found a way to minimize the price increase while still sourcing the best possible products and maintaining the highest standards in customer service to keep the high quality that you’ve come to expect from us and are accustomed to.
All orders made before February 1, 2022, will be honored with the current price, so we highly encourage you to order soon to take advantage of this.
Uncle Tilo’s Clean Water LLC greatly appreciates your continued business and support through this time of change. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this price increase, please do not hesitate to reach out. Our team is more than happy to discuss this situation with you.
The Brown Water Advisory for Hilo Bay has been canceled; however, a Brown Water Advisory has been issued for the east side of the Hawaii Island on Hawai‘i.
Recent heavy rain has resulted in stormwater runoff entering into coastal waters. The public is advised to stay out of flood waters and storm water runoff due to possible overflowing cesspools, sewer, manholes, pesticides, animal fecal matter, dead animals, pathogens, chemicals, and associated flood debris. Not all coastal areas may be impacted by runoff, however, if the water is brown stay out. Continue to practice good personal hygiene and follow-up with your primary care physician if you have any health concerns.
Did you know......series
ACID RAIN AND PREVAILING WIND
Acid rain is a broad term that is often used to describe several forms of acid deposition. Wet deposition is when rain, snow, fog, or mist contains high amounts of sulfuric and nitric acid. When sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are emitted into the atmosphere, they dissolve in water and fall as precipitation. Dry deposition occurs when dust and smoke that contain high amounts of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides settle to the ground, or onto buildings, cars and vegetation. These gases are converted to acids when they contact water. The acidity of acid rain can vary. Pure water has a pH of 7 and normal rainwater has a pH around 5.6. In 2000, the most acidic rain that fell in the United States had a pH of 4.3.
WHERE DOES ACID RAIN COME FROM?
Acid rain develops when sulfur dioxide or nitrogen oxides enter the atmosphere. While natural processes, such as the eruption of a volcano or decomposing vegetation, can emit sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides into the air, acid rain is primarily caused by excessive emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides as a result of human actions.
The primary cause of nitrogen oxide emissions are vehicles, which account for about 60 percent of all nitrogen oxide emissions. However, emissions also come from furnaces, boilers and engines.
The primary cause of nitrogen oxide emissions are vehicles, which account for about 60 percent of all nitrogen oxide emissions. However, emissions also come from furnaces, boilers and engines.
CAN ACID RAIN MAKE DRINKING WATER UNSAFE?
Water that is slightly acidic should not be dangerous, as there are many food that have low pH value; for example, lemon juice, soda pop and oranges has a pH range of 2.4 and 3.6. However, a low pH can indicate that there may be other contaminants in the water, because if pollutants have been added to a water source, the pH typically will change.
Water treatment facilities monitor the pH level of the water while they are treating it for municipal use and therefore Rainwater Harvesters should also. Acidic or basic water is harder to disinfect than water with a pH that is closer t 7.0.
Water treatment facilities monitor the pH level of the water while they are treating it for municipal use and therefore Rainwater Harvesters should also. Acidic or basic water is harder to disinfect than water with a pH that is closer t 7.0.
WHY RAINWATER HARVESTERS MUST ADD MENERALS TO CATCHMENT SYSTEMS
As well, when acidic water is sent through pipes and into homes, there would be a greater danger of pipe corrosion, which could allow metals to dissolve into the drinking water releasing lead into the water supply as it flow through the pipes. One common method used to increase the pH is to add calcium carbonate - Uncle Tilo's Acid Rain Minerals Pack - which neutralizes the acid and increases the pH of the water. Another common method is to inject a sodium carbonate solution into the water. According to the World Health Organization, a pH less than 8.0 is necessary for effective chlorination. If the pH is too high, water treatment can decrease the acidity in a number of ways.
WHAT DOES ACID RAIN DO TO VEGETATION?
Acid rain can weaken trees by damaging the leaves and limiting the amount of available nutrients. Acid rain dissolves nutrients and minerals and carries them away before the vegetation can use them to grow. Crops are not usually harmed by acid rain, because farmers use fertilizer, which includes the necessary nutrients, or add crushed limestone to their fields. Limestone is an alkaline material, so it increases the buffering capacity of the soil to neutralize acids. The picture below shows the effects that acid rain had on a pine tree. The branch on the left has lost needles and turned yellow, which is the result of acid rain.
DOES ACID RAIN HARM BUILDINGS?
Acid rain can corrode metals and deteriorate paint and stone. Those of us experienced this during the recent lava flow of 2018. To see the effects of acid rain for yourself, try this experiment: Put a piece of chalk into a bowl white sugar and another into a bowl of tap water. Leave them overnight and see which is more worn away in the morning. Vinegar is an acid with a pH of 2.8, and chalk is made of calcium carbonate, which is a compound of marble and limestone.
Whether we use municipal, well or rainwater catchment systems we must know the answers to these questions:
How water is used, where it comes from, and how much it costs. Rainwater Harvesting is not as easy as collect and use for household use and consumption. Engagement is the key to provide clean safe water to you and your family.
From Flint, Michigan to Red Hill in Honolulu, Hawai'i and all those communities in-between is the reflection how the government oversite and regulations has works throughout the United States and Pacific Island Nations.
Ultimately, individually we are responsible for a personal safe clean water supply. There is no life without water.
The quality of your water is a direct link to the quality of your health.
Test your water. Investigate your water disinfection methods.