USS Houston sub leaked radioactive water, possibly for months

U.S. sub leaked radioactive water, possibly for months
Story Highlights
Leak was found on the USS Houston during routine maintenance last month

Navy officials say amount of radiation leaked into water was virtually undetectable

Sub spent time at ports in Guam, Japan and Hawaii

Officials: Radiation was "negligible" and an "extremely low level"

From Jamie McIntyre and Mike Mount
CNN Pentagon Unit


WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Water with trace amounts of radioactivity may have leaked for months from a U.S. Navy nuclear-powered submarine as it traveled around the Pacific to ports in Guam, Japan and Hawaii, Navy officials told CNN on Friday.

The leak was found on the USS Houston, a Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine, after it went to Hawaii for routine maintenance last month, Navy officials said.

Navy officials said the amount of radiation leaked into the water was virtually undetectable. But the Navy alerted the Japanese government because the submarine had been docked in Japan.

The problem was discovered last month when a build-up of leaking water popped a covered valve and poured onto a sailor's leg while the submarine was in dry dock.

An investigation found a valve was slowly dripping water from the sub's nuclear power plant. The water had not been in direct contact with the nuclear reactor, Navy officials said.
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