Military Families Sue U.S Government Over Jet Fuel Contamination in Hawaii Water Supply

Richelle Dietz and her family, stationed in Honolulu as part of the U.S. Navy, have been relying heavily on bottled water for over a year due to jet fuel leaking into their base’s drinking supply. The contamination has caused illnesses such as vomiting, diarrhea, rashes and asthma among military families living in nearby housing units. Dietz is one of 17 plaintiffs suing the U.S government over the incident that will be part of a bellwether trial set to commence on May 29th. The outcome could determine damages for thousands more affected individuals, including civilians and service members involved in three federal lawsuits against the Department of Justice who have already admitted liability regarding this case’s nuisance factor. However, government attorneys dispute that jet fuel levels were high enough to cause health problems experienced by plaintiffs such as seizures, memory loss, anxiety, eczema and asthma during and after the leak. The Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility tanks have long been a source of concern for Native Hawaiians due to previous leaks that affected the broader water supply in urban Honolulu. After discovering fuel contamination in late 2021, Navy personnel neglected warning others who became sick from drinking or bathing with tainted tap water until six months later when an investigation revealed a cascading series of errors led to over twenty thousand gallons being discharged into the facility’s fire suppression system before finally making its way through pipelines used by local housing. In moving forward, Dietz has found unexpected support from Native Hawaiians who have been fighting against U.S military encroachment on their sacred resources for years and now see this water crisis as an opportunity to build solidarity with affected families in the community. As she prepares to relocate her family due to new orders, Dietz hopes that awareness of what happened will continue beyond the trial’s conclusion so future residents won’t unknowingly suffer similar consequences.