The US Navy said it found trace amounts of jet fuel in the water.
A sailor shared a photo as proof that they were exposed to an "unhealthy amount" of fuel.
They didn't get medical attention immediately despite their health concerns.
The US Navy acknowledged recently that the water on the aircraft carrier was contaminated by jet fuel, but a sailor on the ship said the situation was worse than first thought.
Two weeks ago, the crew found out that the water supply was malfunctioning. A sailor said that the water had become discolored and smelly. The Navy said there were traces of hydrocarbons in the testing.
In a recent interview with Insider, a sailor aboard the ship described a situation that appears to be far worse than what the Navy originally said.
The sailor, who is known to Insider but is being kept out of the public eye, said that they were exposed to an "unhealthy amount of JP-5." JP-5, also known as jet-propellant-5, is a type of fuel used in military aircraft and is used in the Navy's carrier air wings.
Although they and their shipmates drank and showered with the contaminated water, they were initially denied medical attention for issues that were related to their exposure to jet fuel.
A spokesman for 3rd Fleet told Insider on Friday that five sailors have reported health issues that could be related to the contamination and that the ship's leadership is keeping an eye on it. Insider was told that the number had gone up to 10.
"If we receive any more reports of potentially contaminated water, we will immediately investigate and take appropriate action to safeguard the crew," said Sean Robertson, a fleet spokesman. Insider spoke with the parents of a sailor who said that the medical team was still turning away sailors.
There was jet fuel in the water on the evening of September 16. A Navy spokesman confirmed this date to Task & Purpose, one of the outlets that first reported on the issue, and said that the crew immediately took action.
The sailor said that the ship's commanding officer told the crew that they should not drink jet fuel and that they should only drink bottled water until they got back to port.
The sailor said that they were told by the ship's executive officer and the commanding officer that the water was safe to drink.
The sailor said it was unsafe to drink. People were showering in this stuff.
After arriving at San Diego's Naval Air Station North Island, the carrier was connected to the local water supply. The sailor said that the leadership reversed course again and said the water was unsafe to drink and shower in.
The sailor said that people thought the water was safe despite indications that it wasn't.
The sailor said that medical staff refused to note the JP-5 exposure in sailors' records.
One of the service members had a rash while the other was throwing up. In a separate interview with Insider, the sailor's parents said they noticed their sailor had a dry cough after exposure.
The sailor said the medical told them it would pass through them. It was clear that they should seek medical attention after they reviewed a safety data sheet with information about hazardous chemicals and jet fuel exposure.
There was a thick layer of JP-5 on top of the water when it was opened for inspection. The jet fuel needed to be flushed out of the system.
A sailor described the process of taste- and smell-testing of the ship's water as a "big concern." They said that the process of taste- and smell-testing of the ship's water began on September 18.
Cmdr. Robertson told Insider that a "sniffer team" of sailors has been tasked with checking out "hot spots."
The process of filling and dumping the water tanks was described by the sailor. They noticed the fuel left on the sides of the tank when they drained the tank.
The sailor explained that they were draining the water out, filling it back up, and letting the JP-5 coat the sides of the tank.
The water on the carrier had been tested two times.
An initial test of water samples from September 19 did not show measurable amounts of fuel hydrocarbons, according to a Navy official. There were traces of hydrocarbons in the water samples that were tested on September 21. The Navy didn't say how much was detected.
The sailor pointed out that there was a thick layer of fuel on top of the water.
The aircraft carrier was supposed to leave San Diego late last week. The sailor thought that media coverage and attention may have triggered the lab tests, not the crew's suspicion that there was still jet fuel in the water.
The sailor's family gave Insider a picture of a text exchange between the sailor and his parents.
The sailor received a picture from his shipmate. The photo was taken shortly after it was first announced that there was jet fuel in the water, and appears to show a water sample drawn from a water fountain consisting of a thick, green, layer on the top and a murky, white layer on the bottom.
The sailor said that as of this week, some of their fellow Navy sailors were still drinking and showering with the contaminated water.
The smell and taste of jet fuel still linger, even though the shore water looks better, as residual amounts stick to the water tanks and piping.
The sailor said that the only way to remove the JP-5 from the tank was to drain it and scrub it.
Sailors will get the highest quality water when the ship leaves San Diego, according to Cmdr. Robertson in an email.
The health and well-being of all of our Sailors is a priority. "Nimitz leadership encourages the crew to report to medical immediately if they show any illness or injury that could be caused by exposure to contaminated water."
10 sailors have reported health issues that could be related to JP-5 ingestion, but no new reports have been made in the last 24 hours.
Between September 17 and September 26 there were symptoms, which included headaches, diarrhea, and rash. He said that none of those people are currently reporting any symptoms related to JP-5 ingestion.
The parents of the sailor with which Insider spoke said in a separate interview that they have been reaching out to various lawmakers to try and voice their concerns but they haven't had much luck.
One parent said it was a privilege to serve. I expect the leadership to care for the soldiers and sailors.
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