Sasebo Base Enforces Water Restrictions
PHOTO CAPTION: Illustrative file photo — Equipment Operator 3rd Class Jessie Canisalez, a U.S. Navy Seabee, crawls through a muddy trench during jungle warfare training in Okinawa, Japan, April 23, 2015. Sailors at Fleet Activities Sasebo are now being ordered to limit showers to five minutes as drought restrictions tighten. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class John P. Curtis)
Sailors stationed at a U.S. Navy base in Japan are being ordered to keep showers to five minutes as worsening drought conditions force the installation to impose mandatory water restrictions.
Commander, Fleet Activities Sasebo announced that the measures will take effect Monday as the surrounding city struggles with depleted water supplies.
For U.S. military personnel, the restrictions are mandatory.
And according to a base spokesman, significant violations could potentially lead to disciplinary action.
The new rules go beyond shorter showers.
Sasebo Naval Base will close public and government-vehicle car washes, restrict shower hours at the Hario Housing fitness center and postpone routine fire hydrant testing and water-flow checks.
Civilian employees, military family members and others in the base community are strongly encouraged to follow the same conservation measures, though the mandatory requirement applies to military personnel.
The restrictions come after Sasebo city raised the southern portion of its water system to level five drought measures — its highest level.
That area includes Navy housing and the Hario Ordnance Facility.
Despite heavy rainfall and flooding in other parts of Japan, Sasebo has received relatively little rain. The Shimonohara Dam, which supplies the affected area, remains at roughly 60% capacity, according to city officials.
The city began reducing water pressure in the southern water system earlier this month in an effort to conserve supplies.
Naval Base Sasebo is not technically required to impose the same measures as the city, but base officials elected to participate in the conservation effort.
Base commander Capt. Wil Hines said the Navy has an obligation to support the surrounding community as drought conditions continue.
Personnel are also being told to run washing machines and dishwashers only with full loads and water-saving cycles. Residents are encouraged to save gray water for use on yards and potted plants.
Officials said the restrictions are not expected to interfere with operational requirements.
The five-minute shower recommendation actually began earlier.
In late August, as reservoir levels first began falling, sailors and families at Sasebo were asked voluntarily to shorten showers and reduce unnecessary water consumption.
At that time, base officials said the shortage was not affecting Navy operations.
Conditions have since worsened.
The difference now is that what began as a request to conserve water has become a mandatory directive for military personnel — with the possibility of discipline for significant violations.
(Source: OAF Nation)
