366th Civil Engineer Squadron employs new water filtration system

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Malissa Armstrong
  • 366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho --  The 366th Civil Engineer Squadron implemented a new water filtration system that effects Well 4 on the base.

The system is an ion exchange resin process that filters perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) out of the water supply thus allowing 200,000 gallons of water a day to be added to the base water supply.

“Currently the Well 4 filtration system is completed and in operation,” said 1st Lt. Samuel Parker, 366th Civil Engineer Squadron operations flight commander. “The system became operational August 20, 2018 and will [continue] to be operational until another clean supply of water can be developed.”

In May 2016, the Environmental Protection Agency created a health advisory for PFOS/PFOA to 70 parts per trillion, Parker explained.

“The base became aware that Well 4 and Well 9 exceeded the EPA’s lifetime health advisory levels of 70 parts per trillion for PFOS/PFOA in August 2016,” said Tom Kendall, Air Force Civil Engineer Center’s remediation program manager. “Once this occurred, the base immediately shut down Well 4 and 9. The AFCEC then planned and programmed a project to install an ion exchange resin treatment system for Well 4.”

Parker said once the system came online they did all the required testing to ensure the water met the EPA's health advisory and is safe.

“Well 9 only serves the Air Control Tower and is not hooked up to the base public water system, and the facility is provided bottled water for drinking water,” Kendall said.