Utilities department releases water quality report Published June 1, 2007 21st Medical Group Bioenvironmental Engineering Flight PETERSON AFB, Colo. -- Base residents and employees can get the facts about the water they drink from the recently released Colorado Springs Utilities 2007 Water Quality Report (reporting period Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2006). The report is designed to inform the public about the water and services CSU delivers to the city's population, including Peterson Air Force Base. According to CSU, the drinking water continually meets or surpasses state and federal standards for drinking water. CSU, as well as the 21st Medical Group's Bioenvironmental Engineering Flight, test the water consumed throughout the base. CSU tests water at its sources, and in the city distribution system. BE tests water at 19 different sampling locations per month for microbiological contamination that could occur in the Peterson section of the distribution system. The sample sites include both child development centers, youth activity center, dining facility, base housing and several Peterson East facilities. All microbiological samples collected in 2006 were analyzed by the El Paso County Health Department laboratory and reported negative for the presence of bacteria. In July 2006, BE performed annual lead and copper sampling at both child development centers and the youth center to ensure the water met all state and federal standards. All lead and copper sample results reported well below the EPA action level of 15 parts per billion and 1.3 milligrams per liter, respectively. Force protection is very important to BE. To ensure the health of our forces, BE also conducts drinking water surveillance on any water transported to Fort Carson's Camp Red Devil during all Air Force deployment exercises at that facility. Local surface water sources are from the north and south slopes of Pikes Peak, North and South Cheyenne Creeks, Fountain Creek, Monument Creek/Pikeview Reservoir, and the Northfield Watershed. Local ground water sources consist of four wells (900 to 1,000 feet deep) pumped from the Arapahoe aquifer, one well (700 feet deep) pumped from the Denver aquifer, and one well (1,700 feet deep) pumped from the Laramie-Fox Hills aquifer. All water is treated at the Colorado Springs water treatment plants using widely accepted, standard technology. Throughout the process of collection, treatment and distribution, certified water treatment plant operators and laboratory staff monitor the water quality for its chemical and biological content. Some of these analyses are required to meet state and federal standards. Others are part of ongoing testing to assure a continual supply of high quality drinking water. As water travels over the surface of the land and through the ground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive material, and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that the water poses a health risk. For information about the contaminants and potential health effects, call the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791) or go to www.epa.gov/safewater. Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general public. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. EPA/Center for Disease Control guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and microbiological contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791). CSU is not required to mail the 2007 Water Quality Report to base occupants. To view the complete 2007 Water Quality Report, go to www.csu.org, and click on the 2007 Water Quality Report. The report is also available on the Peterson AFB web site under 21st Space Wing news. Customers without web access can pick up a hard copy of the report at the Bioenvironmental Engineering office located in Building 1246 at 625 Ent Ave. or at the base housing office. The report will also be posted in all base dormitory facilities. For information about Peterson water quality, call Michael Puleo or Tech. Sgt. Michael Watson at 556-7721. (Water quality information courtesy of Colorado Springs Utilities and Bioenvironmental Engineering)