USS Gerald R Ford Aircraft Carrier Struggles Against Massive Sewage Crisis
How do you answer the call of duty without having a place to duty? Apologies for the crude pun, but the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier has a massive sewage problem. There are 650 failing toilers for 5,000 sailors, creating a crappy situation.
The USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier has an expensive sewage problem
It really stinks that members of the Navy are struggling aboard the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier due to sewage problems. The $13 billion carrier is a symbol of American might despite having persistent plumbing problems.
The Navy insists that failing toilets do not hinder the vessel’s operation, but it’s been in use for nearly a decade. That seemingly provides plenty of time to tackle crappy problems like narrow pipes.
To save water, the boat received a vacuum-based sewage system adapted from cruise ships. But it’s not ready to handle the loads provided by 5,000 sailors and experiences frequent clogs.
According to Gulf News, clearing a clog requires a specialized acid flush that costs $400,000 each time. There have been 205 breakdowns over four days with 19-hour shifts to battle leaks and overflows.
As a result, sailor morale is decreasing due to unsanitary conditions, making daily life more difficult. Sometimes there are 45-minute lines for the bathroom. This code brown adds to the pressure of preparing for a possible confrontation with Iran.
The current sailors aboard have been at sea for eight months. This could be extended to 11 months, breaking the record for a continuous deployment by a US Navy ship. Meanwhile, maintenance and plumbing tasks are being delayed.
