SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — The U.S. Navy says drinking water on the USS Nimitz is now safe for the crew, and the ship has left San Diego to rejoin its strike group.
The ship left Naval Station North Island Sunday morning after all tests of the potable water returned results indicating it was OK for sailors to use, a Navy spokesperson said.
The USS Nimitz had been in port in San Diego since Sept. 17 as crews worked to flush, clean, test and evaluate the potable water system until they detected no more jet fuel.
Sailors found trace amounts of jet propellant 5 in the water system on Sept. 16 while underway off the coast of California, the Navy's statement said.
While the ship was in port, the crew used San Diego's water supply while the water system was flushed with about 1 million gallons of fresh water.
According to the Navy, a lab certified by the California Department of Health tested the water in the USS Nimitz's potable system 70 times since Sept. 21.
The 11 Nimitz sailors who reported symptoms of headaches, rashes and diarrhea from drinking the contaminated water have been cleared for duty.
“The health, safety, and wellbeing of Nimitz Sailors remains our top priority. I want to thank all base, local, and federal health and environmental agencies who have worked to ensure we met and exceeded all testing, regulations, and purity standards in order to safely return this warship to sea," said Rear Adm. Christopher Sweeney, the Commander of Carrier Strike Group 11. I also want to acknowledge the Sailors and leaders on board Nimitz who worked tirelessly and took the necessary action to keep the crew safe.”
You can read a previous 10News story about the water contamination aboard the USS Nimitz below.
BREMERTON, Wash. (KGTV) – The U.S. Navy reported that the USS Nimitz, the aircraft carrier based out of Bremerton, Washington, has been in port at Naval Air Station North Island since Sept. 16 after jet fuel contaminated one of the ship’s 26 drinking water tanks.
Ten sailors reported symptoms that could be connected to the contamination, according to Commander Sean Robertson.
These symptoms surfaced between Sept. 17 to 26, with Nimitz sailors experiencing headaches, rashes and diarrhea. A team of sailors has been tasked with sniffing out “hot spots,” or areas where fuel can be detected.
On Sept. 29, 29% of locations evaluated had a medium to high odor, but the next day only 16% of those areas had a medium to high odor. Currently, the ship is flushing those areas.
Robertson said crews are supplied with free water bottles and the U.S.S. Nimitz has received fresh water from the city’s water supply since Sept. 17.
The carrier is expected to remain in port until the water is safe to use.
