TF Med has clear mission in tests for potable water

40th Public Affairs Detachment
Story by Spc. Grant Ligon

Date: 08.08.2019
Posted: 08.14.2019 09:39
News ID: 335825
TF Med has clear mission in tests for potable water

CAMP BONDSTEEL, Kosovo - Preventive medicine Soldiers with Multinational Battle Group – East’s Task Force Medical tested the potable usage of water in support of NATO Kosovo Force’s Joint Medicine at Austrian Liaison Monitoring Team houses in the Kosovo Force MNBG-West area of operation, Aug. 8.
In Kosovo, MNBG-E’s TF Medical is the designated preventive medicine force able to test potable water, and the microbiology for turbidity and chemical analysis. Turbidity is the cloudiness or haziness of a fluid caused by large numbers of individual particles that are generally invisible to the naked eye.
Joint medical branch headquarters, U.S. Air Force Maj. Ulises Atilano discussed the importance of water safety and time efficiency.
“If [Soldiers] can’t test the water, they don’t know whether or not it is safe enough to drink,” he said. “The folks here can do it within a couple of days.” Drinking water is the largest single potable water-planning factor for the U.S. armed forces and represents 15% of the total per capita water planning on the modern battlefield.
TF Medical uses a colorimeter to test water quality. The colorimeter uses light refraction to find the pH and chlorine available in the water. The pH test includes a dye that liquid-bonds with certain water chemistry to provide an accurate pH reading. In chlorine testing, a powder shows how much free available chlorine is in the water and how much is available to sanitize the water. This system allows preventive medicine to test all water chemistry standards and parameters present in the water at that time.
TF Medical preventive medicine specialist Pfc. David Poppick, 61st Preventive Medicine Detachment, conducted the test and said a basic drinking measure for water is having a pH level of seven or higher. Chlorine in the water will appear based on the presence of bacteria, as the chlorine helps disintegrate the bacteria. Clean water is paramount for soldiers to perform their missions.
“I just want to make sure that the water is drinkable for the soldiers who are going to be using it,” Poppick said. “To shower, bath, brush their teeth, basic hygiene and washing hands.”
TF Medical preventive medicine thwarts non-battle, disease injuries and enables Soldiers to complete their mission this ensures Soldier health protection and safety.
-30-