Bottled water will be available at Sanban Tower during an upcoming planned water outage at Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan. (Jonathan Baez/Stars and Stripes)
YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, JAPAN — The home of the U.S. 7th Fleet will temporarily reduce water service beginning June 17 while crews repair a leaking line, base officials said during a recent town hall meeting.
The work is expected to take one day, although reduced water service could continue until the system is flushed and testing confirms the water is safe for consumption, according to a plan outlined during the May 13 meeting at the Community Readiness Center.
Water service will not be completely shut off, base commander Capt. Jonathan Hopkins told those in attendance. Base reservoirs and storage tanks will maintain limited pressure to homes and facilities for sanitation purposes during the work.
Essential services — including the naval hospital, mess halls, child and youth programs, gyms and regularly scheduled religious services — are expected to remain operational, Hopkins said.
A water conservation advisory will begin June 15 and remain in effect until normal drinking water service resumes, according to the plan. Residents are being asked to avoid nonessential water use, including washing vehicles and watering lawns.
“The drinking water on [Yokosuka] is safe today, and I’m proud of the team that made that the case,” Hopkins told Stars and Stripes on Friday in an email relayed by base spokesman Justin Keller.
Beginning June 11, the base will distribute bottled water at Sanban Tower from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily through June 21. Those with a valid government identification who live or work on the main base may receive one case of water per day, Hopkins said.
Repair work will close the first two vehicle lanes at Carney Gate, base officials said at the meeting. A boil-water advisory is expected to begin the evening of June 18 while water samples are tested by an independent laboratory and the base hospital.
Once testing confirms the water is safe, the advisory will be lifted and residents will be instructed to flush taps, dispose of stored ice and replace water filters, according to the plan.
The approaching rainy season could delay the work, Keller said by email Friday.
“If significant weather prevents the work from starting on 17 June, the contingency is to shift the repair one week or as soon as possible,” he wrote.
