--- title: "Largest Army base in South Korea has no running water over holiday weekend" description: "Camp Humphreys, the largest overseas U.S. military base, lost running water after a mechanical failure, with repairs delayed by a holiday." date: "2026-09-25" modified: "2026-09-25" authors: - name: "Austin Campbell" job_title: "Contributing reporter" link: "https://taskandpurpose.com/authors/austin-campbell.md" - name: "Matt White" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://taskandpurpose.com/authors/matt-white.md" url: "https://taskandpurpose.com/news/largest-army-base-in-south-korea-has-no-running-water-over-holiday-weekend/" categories: - "Army" - "Military Branches" - "News" --- # Largest Army base in South Korea has no running water over holiday weekend ![U.S. Army Sgt. Chris Sebastian Morales, a human resources specialist assigned to the 19th Human Resources Company, Division Sustainment Troops Battalion, 2d Infantry Division Sustainment Brigade, pours water over his head to cool down during a water break while conducting the Adjutant General Service member of the year Ruck March at Camp Humphreys, South Korea, July 16, 2026. Sustaining administrative excellence and personnel readiness demonstrates the critical role of human resources in military lethality, showcasing the division’s ability to seamlessly synchronize U.S. and ROK manpower to maintain combat power and reinforce the strength of the ROK–U.S. Alliance. (U.S. Army photo by KCpl Yoon Hyeok Choi)]() *Troops at Camp Humphreys, South Korea, were facing a weekend without running water after a mechanical failure at a nearby water plant on Friday, September 25, 2026. Base officials said repairs will be delayed due to the 3-day Chuseok holiday. Army photo by Cpl. Yoon Hyeok Choi.* Soldiers at the Army’s primary base in South Korea have no running water and won’t have any through the weekend, service officials said on Friday. Officials said that a mechanical failure left taps dry across Camp Humphreys, 40 miles south of Seoul, but that fixes would be delayed through the weekend due to a Korean holiday. This weekend marks the three-day Chuseok harvest festival, which extends over Thursday, Friday and Saturday of this week. As a result of the holiday, officials said, U.S. troops, families and contractors on base could be without running water until Monday. A post on the base's Facebook page said that several services were closed. "All \[recreational\] facilities, AAFES food services, AAFES Main Exchange, Zoeckler Mini Mall, Troop Mini Mall, Sentry Mini Mall, and 3rd MI Express are suspended," the post said. "The 24-hour Family Mini Mall remains operational." Dining facilities, officials said, remain open. The base gets approximately 70% of its water from the nearby city of Pyeongtaek, while the remaining 30% is sourced from wells on the base, according to [previous reporting by Stars and Stripes](). ![CAMP HUMPHREYS, Republic of Korea - Bottles of water are lined up to be placed in welcome bags for incoming single and unaccompanied Soldiers entering the quarantine process, during a Bag Brigade Drive at Freedom Chapel here, Nov. 21. Volunteers assembled bags including water, Korean snacks and treats, information packets and amenities to help ease the quarantine process for Soldiers as well as to show them that the community here supports and values them.]() *Base officials said nine "water buffalo" tanks were available around Camp Humphreys but that personnel would need to bring their own containers to fill. Army photo by Spc. Matthew Marcellus.* Camp Humphreys is the largest overseas U.S. military installation, and home to the 2nd Infantry Division. [The installation has an on-base population of about 45,000 service members](), civilians, contractors, and their families. Many, though not all, soldiers on base are on unaccompanied tours without families. Army officials have not said how many troops are impacted by the water shortage. A basewide notification of the water shortage went out across Camp Humphreys on Friday, Sept. 25, at about 8 p.m. A Camp Humphreys Facebook page has [posted updates on the shortage](), noting that the issue affects both drinking water and non-potable water used for sanitary purposes. Drinking water, officials said, was available from nine “water buffalo” portable tanks around the base. Impacted individuals, officials said, will need to bring their own containers to fill. With most plumbing out of service, officials said portable toilets were located at the commissary, on-base lodgings and the 24-hour family mini mall. The base is also allegedly actively working on distributing bottled water, as well. The Army did not immediately respond to questions from Task & Purpose on the water shortage's direct cause. ## Author Austin Campbell is an investigative reporter covering the U.S. military, national security, foreign policy and federal accountability. His reporting has uncovered previously unreleased military death data, documented nearly $1.8 million in questionable Air Force procurement spending, and exposed institutional failures across the military and federal government. His investigations have been cited multiple times by members of Congress and prompted congressional oversight of federal agencies. His work has appeared in The Intercept, Military.com, and Responsible Statecraft. A former U.S. Air Force aircraft armament specialist, Campbell holds a master's degree from UNC Chapel Hill's Hussman School of Journalism and Media.