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Contaminants found in base water, remedy underway

  • Published
  • By Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs Office
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  While routinely monitoring the base's drinking water, 87th Medical Group bioenvironmental specialists determined that the sampling showed the Dix water system exceeded the standard for a contaminant known as Haloacetic Acid 5 (HAA5). This sampling was reported to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection who then issued a Notice of Non-Compliance to the joint base for exceeding the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for total HAA5.

The joint base community has had minimal exposure to this contaminant because the portion of base where it was found is remote. The affected water supply is in the 3600 area of Dix, which does not include military family housing, child care facilities or facilities in highly populated areas.

"The water in the United Communities housing area and across base is and has been safe to drink," said Lt. Col. Gregory Morissette, 87th Civil Engineer Squadron commander. "We test for these contaminants and the results from those samples show that the water in housing does not violate the maximum contaminant level for the disinfection byproducts."

When HAA5 exceeds the maximum contaminant level, people may experience an increased risk of cancer after 70 years of continuous exposure. Water samples taken before and after the affected sample indicate HAA5 levels well below the MCL, demonstrating that the water does not continuously exceed the federal MCL and, therefore, does not pose a health risk, according to medical officials.

Additionally, there is no impact to the McGuire or Lakehurst water systems or surrounding communities since the water from the Dix system is not supplied to any facilities in any of these areas.

"While the contaminants do not currently present a health risk to the base population, our civil engineers are doing everything they can to ensure that the base's water supply remains safe to drink," said Col. James Hodges, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst and 87th Air Base Wing commander.

The 87th CES has been working to minimize risk to the joint base community. Actions taken thus far include: reducing residence time of the water by flushing the system daily in the affected areas, partially emptying the Sheridanville water tower every week to ensure adequate water flow, and blending in ground water to reduce the amount of organic carbon. Additionally, throughout the next two years, base officials will dig three new wells, install three new water treatment systems, change the method of chlorination to reduce contact time in the system, and improve organic material removal at the surface water plant.

Additional information regarding the contaminant is posted at: www.jointbasemdl.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-140918-060.pdf