Hawaii County’s Department of Water Supply announced the first-time detection of low levels of Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid – or PFOS — in one of its wells during voluntary testing across the island.

It is part of a group of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals” because they do not break down easily.

County officials, however, said the test results, which ranged from 2.6 to 3.0 nanograms per liter, were within acceptable limits for safe drinking water set by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency.

The PFOS were detected in Kulaimano Well A, which is one of two groundwater sources in the Pepeekeo Water System that supplies the community of Pepeekeo and the Hamakua Coast. The primary groundwater source, Kulaimano Well B, is currently un

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