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In November 2021 a strong petroleum smell was reported by families living at U.S. Navy Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. After an investigation by the Hawaii Department of Health it was revealed that a massive jet fuel leak from the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility had contaminated the water throughout Honolulu, releasing petroleum levels 350 times that of safety standards. Officials ordered immediate suspension of all operations at the facility. A year after the event the Navy agreed to defuel and permanently close Red Hill, a process they say is on track for completion by June 2024.
Within water used for drinking, cooking, and bathing toxic chemicals have been found in at least 400 active and closed U.S. military installations. The Environmental Protection Agency has designated 149 of those locations as Superfund sites. Toxins found in the water include per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) which can cause liver damage, testicular and kidney cancer, changes in cholesterol and thyroid levels, and other issues.