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Japan Facilities Improvement Program improves base quality at Yokota

By Capt. Rockie K. Wilson
374th Civil Engineer Squadron

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- One of the many ways the partnership between the Government of Japan and the United States manifests itself is through the Japan Facilities Improvement Program.

Through this program, the GOJ funds millions of dollars worth of construction at U.S. military installations throughout Japan.

At Yokota, some more noticeable projects being built under the JFIP program include the Metropolitan Area Network, central steam plant construction, and the replacement of high temperature hot water lines on the east side Military Family Housing area.

The MAN project began in May 2002. Once completed, Yokota communications will be greatly enhanced through the provision of a new fiber-optic local area network. Additionally, the replacement of Yokota's central steam plant and high temperature hot water lines, as planned in the near future, will vastly improve Yokota's aging infrastructure.

Existing hot water lines in Yokota's east area are badly deteriorated and showing signs of breaks and leakage. The breaks require additional water supply to be pumped to customers throughout the east side of base, in turn causing undue strain to local pump stations as well as the unnecessary waste of electricity and water.

With this project in place, the thousands of hours expended annually by the 374th Civil Engineer Squadron in limiting outages for east area residents will be reduced. The result will be a reliable and maintainable hot water supply for domestic usage and comfort heating for many years.

Other projects commencing soon are the replacement of main steam lines and a project focusing on the water distribution lines on Yokota's main base. These projects will improve the base infrastructure. Residents will benefit from the upgrade of water distribution lines and be provided a redundant water-source to the east area. Currently, east area wells and pump stations are unable to independently meet capacity demand requirements.

The upgrade of the water lines will allow additional wells to pump water to the east area, effectively allowing for future growth and providing a completely independent and self-reliant water supply system. While the replacement of high temperature hot water lines and upgrade water distribution lines benefit east area residents, the replacement of steam lines will benefit main base and west area residents. The existing steam lines, which are used to provide comfort heating and domestic hot water use to industrial, commercial, administrative, and residential areas on main base, are also showing signs of deterioration. The steam line replacement will provide a system that Yokota residents can rely on for years to come. (PACAFNS)