Spangdahlem’s drinking water safe Published Feb. 28, 2012 By Master Sgt. Kelley J. Stewart 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany - -- Naturally occurring bacteria was found in the water system here in a water sample taken Feb. 22. Tests of that water sample came back positive Feb. 23, and the positive sample was confirmed Feb. 24. The 52nd Aerospace Medicine Squadron Bioenvironmental Flight discovered the bacteria during routine sampling of the water system. "This is what you'd consider normal flora," said Capt. Keith Sanders, chief occupational health. "It's in dirt, sandboxes, out in the woods ... just your normal variety bacteria." The bioenvironmental engineers routinely test the water looking for indicators of contamination. If the samples show an indicator, more tests are conducted to rule out pathogenic bacteria like E. coli. Bioenvironmental engineer technicians take the water sample, remove the chlorine, add nutrients and grow the bacteria to determine the type of bacteria in the water. This process takes about 24 hours and is done twice to ensure the validity of the first test. "Anything that is in the system at that 'snap shot' in time we can get to grow," said Master Sgt. Christopher Alden, bioenvironmental engineer technician. For the second testing, water is sampled at the point the initial sample was taken, as well as upstream and downstream of that site to help determine the extent of the contamination. The bioenvironmental engineer flight has taken between 40-50 water samples since Feb. 22. The bioenvironmental engineers also check the chlorine levels when they test a water sample. The water used to cook and drink on base has chlorine in it, and that chlorine kills the bacteria. "Every time we take a water sample, we also check for chlorine in that sample to verify what comes out of that tap does have the proper level of chlorination," said Master Sgt. Mike Massey, bioenvironmental engineer flight superintendent. "Every sample we have taken has come back with the appropriate levels." The bioenvironmental engineers ensure the base's drinking water meets the final governing standard-Germany. This standard is a combination of the strictest requirements published in the American Safe Water Drinking Act, the European Union and the German drinking water standards taken together. "When we say the water meets the German final governing standard, it typically exceeds what is required in America," said Lt. Col. Todd Joachim, bioenvironmental flight commander. The Safe Water Drinking Act requires public notification so people with compromised immune systems who develop gastrointestinal illnesses can seek medical treatment from their provider. The information collected from this sampling is given to medical providers to aid in that treatment. People interested in the safety of their drinking water can read the annual Consumer Confidence Report, which is published in the summer online at www.spangdhalem.af.mil. "If people take the time look at this Consumer Confidence Report, they will see the huge list of analytes we test for in the drinking water that we report to the public every year," Massey said. If anyone has any questions regarding the bacteria found in the water samples, call the bioenvironmental engineer flight at DSN 452-8348 or 06565-61-8348. This number is manned 24/7.