Could PFAS-contaminated water from Yokota Air Base have seeped into Fussa Town?

In August, the US military revealed that contaminated water containing organic fluorine compounds (PFAS), which is suspected to be carcinogenic, may have leaked from Yokota Air Base (Fussa City, Tokyo, etc.) . it is suspected that he was released to Fussa City, which is located in the southwest of the base. On the 16th, the Defense Ministry’s North Kanto Defense Bureau provided additional information from the US side to a liaison council formed by the Tokyo metropolitan area and six municipalities surrounding the base. (Kyota Matsushima)

◆ Water contaminated with PFAS flows into the storm water drainage system and is not collected.

According to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and Fussa City, it appears that contaminated water leaked from a reservoir at the base’s fire training area, entered the storm water drainage system, and then flowed – out of the base through a drainage center connected to Fussa City in the southwest. part of the base. At that time, there was a typhoon, and the water that flowed out was not collected.

A study conducted last November found that the PFAS concentration in the reservoir was 1,620 nanograms per liter, 32 times the national provisional guideline value. The US side explained, “The reason PFAS remained in the water is because it contained firefighting foam that was used in fire drills in the past.

◆ The US side says the search to trace the flow of water was complicated by delays in reporting.

Regarding the delay of more than a month from the time of the leak to notification, the US side said, “The investigation to trace the flow of the leaked water was complicated. there was a great chance that he had gone outside the base.”” he explained.

An official from the Tokyo metropolitan government said, “We will work with the local community to request the necessary response.” ‘

The leak happened on August 30. The US military has admitted for the first time that around 47,000 liters of contaminated water containing PFAS overflowed from a reservoir at a fire training range as a result of heavy rains and is likely to have been -outside the base. Local governments were informed on the 3rd of this month. The Liaison Council asked the government to provide detailed information on the 4th of this month.

Yes