Base Joint Pearl Harbor: Hickam, the US Navy announced on Monday that he had delayed the use of a large World War II fuel storage complex above the Hawaiian aquifers that supplied nearly 20% of Honolulu drinking water – after the days of complaints who smelled Water like fuel and has made several sick people.
Naval Secretary Carlos Del Toro traveled to Pearl Harbor and told reporters that he apologized to all the affected people he called “terrible and terrible tragedy.” Nearly 1,000 military households complained about their tap water and some said they had suffered physical illnesses such as cramps and vomiting recently after drinking it.
Water samples returned last week showed the existence of petroleum in water originating from wells near the underground fuel tank complex which had been the source of several fuel leaks for years.
Del Toro said officials were closer to determining the cause of the problem and that when investigations were completed and reviewed, the Navy would adopt water security prevention measures.
“This will allow us to implement new safety measures before continuing the operation,” said Del Toro.
When asked whether the Navy was considering a permanently deadly fuel tank agriculture, Del Toro said all the possibilities were being explored.
“We are looking at some very serious choices here in the near future,” he said.
The fuel of the tank is used to power the many US military vessels and planes that patrolled the Pacific Ocean, but Del Toro said the cutoff impact on military operations would “have a very minimal effect, if any, at all.” “I don’t want to get into the topic with a conversation in connection with how long we can continue to do this for national security reasons, but actually there is no minimum operation for our fleet activities or activities that have an impact on the Air Force or Army or Marine Corps for the nearest time period Once, “Del Toro said.
The announcement came after the Governor of Hawaii and the Congress delegation called the Navy to suspend the operation on the fuel storage complex above the aquifers that supplied water to Urban Honolulu.
Rear Admiral Blake Converse, Deputy Commander of the US Pacific Fleet, said that the use of livestock was suspended on November 27 but officials did not say why the Navy was waiting until Monday to make the announcement.
“I know there are fears that we haven’t transparently with our test results and procedures,” Del Toro said.
“You have a commitment and promise that the information we provide is the most accurate information we have.” Navy last week said water samples from one of the wells showed the presence of petroleum.
The well is near the underground fuel tank complex which has been the source of several fuel leaks for years.
The Navy water system serves around 93,000 people.
Nearly 1,000 military households complain about tap water they smell like fuel or diseases such as abdominal cramps and vomiting.
The Navy said it would flush clean water through the distribution system to clean up the remaining petroleum products from water.
The process, along with testing, can take up to 10 days to ensure water meets the standard of drinking environmental protection agents.
The problem of tap water has underestimated one of the most important military bases, houses for submarines, boats and commanders of US forces in the Indo-Pacific region.
They also threatened to endanger one of the most important aquifers and water sources Honolulu.
During World War II, Roosevelt administration was worried about the vulnerability of fuel tanks on the ground to attack – so the Navy built a farm named Bulk Red fuel storage facility.
This facility has 20 underground tanks lined steel, which can collectively store up to 250 million gallons (946 million liters) of fuel.
Tanks are wrapped in concrete and are stored in the cavity on the edge of the volcanic mountain near Honolulu.
The pipe from a tank runs 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) in the tunnel to trigger anxiety at Pearl Harbor.
Fuel in the tank is used by the US Air Force, Army, Marines, Navy, Coast Guard and Hawaii National Guard for ships and airplanes.
The Navy said Red Hill was very important for maritime security, regional stability, sustainable humanitarian assistance and prosperity in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.
The Department of Defense has spent more than $ 200 million to update facilities and conduct environmental testing since 2006, according to the Navy.