How serious is the plumbing problem -- USS Gerald. R. Ford?

 

Response A

The plumbing problems on the 

USS Gerald R. Ford, currently docked in Souda Bay, Crete, are serious enough to impact crew morale and require urgent port-side maintenance, although the Navy maintains the ship remains fully mission-capable. 

As of late February 2026, the carrier is undergoing an urgent "acid flush"—a procedure costing roughly $400,000 that can only be performed while stationary—to clear widespread clogs in its high-tech sewage system. 

Severity of the Crisis

The situation is characterized by frequent system failures that have directly affected the daily lives of the 4,600+ crew members:

• Widespread Failures: Internal reports recently logged 205 breakdowns over just four days, with some reports claiming up to 80% of toilets were out of service at peak times.
• Excessive Wait Times: Sailors have reportedly faced queues of up to 45 minutes just to use a functioning restroom.
• Maintenance Strain: Engineering teams have worked 19-hour shifts to address leaks and overflows caused by the failing vacuum-based system.
• Deployment Strain: The issues have been exacerbated by the ship’s extended deployment—now in its 11th month—beyond the standard six-month rotation. 

Root Causes

The problems stem from both design flaws and the demands of a warship environment:

• Undersized Design: A 2020 GAO report highlighted that the vacuum-based system's pipes are too narrow for a crew of this size.
• System Fragility: The system is highly interconnected; a single valve failure can bring down an entire zone of toilets.
• Foreign Objects: Clogs have been caused by improper materials introduced into the system, including T-shirts and even a four-foot rope. 

A permanent fix is reportedly years away and will require an expensive redesign of the ship's internal plumbing. 

   [This time I received two AI responses.]

Response B

The plumbing situation on the 

USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), currently docked in Souda Bay, Crete, is a chronic technical failure that has significantly impacted crew morale and daily operations during its extended deployment. While the U.S. Navy maintains that the ship remains fully mission-capable, internal reports describe a "sewage apocalypse" where large sections of the vessel's 650 toilets are frequently out of order. 

Key Details of the Crisis

• Widespread Failures: Reports indicate that up to 80% of toilets on the carrier have been out of service at various points, with one internal email logging 205 breakdowns in just four days.
• Extreme Wait Times: The 4,600+ crew members have reportedly faced queues of 45 minutes or longer to use functioning bathrooms.
• Design Flaws: The issue stems from a vacuum-based sewage system (adapted from cruise ships) with pipes that are too narrow to handle the demands of a high-population warship.
• Operational Strain: Engineering teams have worked 19-hour shifts to track leaks and clear clogs, which have included everything from toilet components to t-shirts and ropes. 

Why the Stop in Greece Matters

The carrier's current stay at NSA Souda Bay is being used for an urgent "acid flush" of the plumbing system. 

• In-Port Only Fix: This procedure involves flushing the pipes with specialized chemicals to clear calcium buildup and costs approximately $400,000 per treatment. It cannot be performed while the ship is at sea.
• Temporary Solution: The Navy has performed this flush at least 10 times since 2023, but it is only a temporary fix. A permanent redesign is estimated to be years away and will cost hundreds of millions of dollars. 

The vessel is expected to remain in Crete until roughly February 27, 2026, before continuing its mission toward the Middle East amid regional tensions.