18th AMDS Bioenvironmental Engineers test water

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Marcus Morris
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  The 18th Aerospace Medicine Squadron Bioenvironmental Engineering discovered total coliform bacteria during a routine water sampling to assess a construction project near Bldg. 718 on Kadena Air Base, Japan, Sept. 19-21, 2014.

The sampling was done to inspect the installation of a temporary water line. Bioenvironmental Engineering took 12 samples, eight of which showed the presence of total coliform bacteria. The standard allows no more than one sample per month can test positive.

The samples that tested positive for total coliform bacteria were from Building 718 and two service connections immediately next to it. Additional samples, taken from the same system but at further locations, tested negative for the presence of total coliform bacteria.

Total coliform bacteria typically do not make people sick. Instead, total coliforms are used as an indicator to identify potential problems within the water system. In this case, it's most important to note that all testing has shown the absence of concerning bacteria, such as fecal coliform or E. coli.

Tests show total coliform bacteria in the Kadena Air Base water system specifically servicing the following buildings: 748, 753, 750, 754, 736, 839, 781, 780, 764, 763, 740, 798, 793, 792, 763, 775, 720, 718, 752, 762, 768, 769, 733, 728, 729, 730, 732, 848, 846, 843, 834, 833, 832, 831, 830, 816, 814, 812, 807, 714, 752, 727 and 70732. The buildings involved are work
centers and none of the buildings are family housing, schools or youth centers.

Bioenvironmental Engineers are continuing to test the water and the 18th Civil Engineer Squadron is flushing the lines as well.

For more information, check the facts sheet at: http://www.kadena.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=21838