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The Maui News
A trace amount of toluene has been detected for the first time in water samples collected at the Maui County Department of Water Supply's Upper Kula Treatment Plant, which is not in the unsafe water advisory area, the state Department of Health said on Monday.
The level for toluene detected at the Upper Kula Treatment Plant was well below the federal and state maximum contaminant level, the DOH said.
Toluene is predominantly used as an industrial feedstock and a solvent and is the main component of paint thinner, permanent markers, contact cement and certain types of glue. It may be discharged from petroleum factories, the DOH said.
Since the presence of toluene was detached after the upper Kula wildfire in August, this "strongly suggests its presence was an artifact of the wildfire impacting the surface water source for the Upper Kula Treatment Plant.î
Toluene detections were confirmed in lab reportson Aug. 14 and Aug. 16.
Maui County's Department of Water Supply notified the DOH of the results on Aug. 28.
Further monitoring is planned by the water department at the Upper Kula Treatment Plant.
To date, the Upper Kula water system is, and continues to be, in compliance with federal and state toluene standards for drinking water, the DOH said.
According to Hawaii law, the drinking water system is required to notify DOH of any previously undetected contaminant within seven days of detecting the contaminant. DOH then has 14 days to notify the public through the media, the DOH said.