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Since 1943 Altus AFB (including military family housing) has pulled 100% of its water from off base sources due to the high salinity of soil on base.
The PFOS/PFOA contamination at Altus AFB is generally located between 30-35 feet below the surface of the ground and is primarily inside the flight line area and is within the base fence line.
The 97th Civil Engineer Squadron and 97th Medical Operations Squadron test the potability of base drinking water daily. Additionally, the potability of base drinking water is independently tested four times a year. All independent tests for potability are certified by the State of Oklahoma’s Department of Environmental Quality.
PFOS/PFOA contamination occurred due to the chemical’s use in Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF), which aviation firefighters use to contain and extinguish dangerous high heat aircraft and jet fuel fires. The US Air Force is currently in the process of converting all old style AFFF to a new AFFF standard that does not use these contaminants. All Crash Fire Rescue Trucks at Altus AFB have been converted to the new AFFF type.
Please refer any questions regarding this article to 97 AMW Public Affairs at 97AMW@US.AF.MIL
| Date Taken: | 04.29.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 05.10.2018 10:00 |
| Story ID: | 274960 |
| Location: | ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, OK, US |
| Web Views: | 68 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Drinking water safe at Altus AFB, by Capt. Patrick Gargan, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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