As many as 1,002 people have filed administrative claims against the U.S. government on Tuesday, seeking monetary damages related to fuel-contaminated drinking water in Hawaii. 

Under the Federal Tort Claims Act, they alleged the U.S. Navy released jet fuel and other contaminants from the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Facility into their drinking water at least twice in 2021 and didn't immediately disclose the incidents, The Military Times reported on Thursday.

Located near the Pearl Harbor-Hickam Joint Base, the facility includes 20 massive 250-foot underground steel tanks encased in concrete, each holding more than 12 million gallons of jet and other fuel. It is situated just 30 meters above Hawaii's main aquifer that supplies fresh water to most of Honolulu and much of Oahu County.

Noting there are 1,499 administrative claims filed against the Navy, Kristina Baehr, founder of Just Well Law representing nearly 3,000 people affected by the contaminated water, told the Military Times that the government hasn't granted any of the administrative claims yet.

Baehr added that the claims are generally seeking monetary damages related to medical issues and medical monitoring now and possibly for the rest of their lives.

Citing the example that military families reported smelling fuel odors and seeing oily firm in their tap water in November, 2021, Baehr told the Military Times that then the Navy still reassured residents that "there was no indication that the water was not safe to drink."

However, 67 percent of her firm's clients are still experiencing health problems after the 2021 contaminations, Baehr said, adding that the tragedy was entirely preventable if the Navy had told the truth.

Though the Navy has accepted responsibility for contaminating our clients' drinking water with jet fuel, Baehr told the Military Times, adding that "the Navy refuses to accept responsibility for any long-term harm. These claims offer the Navy an opportunity to make it right, just as they have promised."

There have been no comments from Navy officials so far.

(With input from agencies)

(Cover: Protesters upset with the Department of Defense's response to the leak of jet fuel into the water supply hold signs outside the gate at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, U.S., September 30, 2022. /AP)