HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. -- According to the 66th Civil Engineering Division, officials failed to conduct a required assessment following the discovery of coliforms by the required Nov. 8 deadline.
While there is no current threat to those consuming drinking water on base, as customers, base personnel have a right to know what happened, what personnel should do, and what base civil engineers are doing to correct this situation.
What happened?
Earlier this year Hanscom officials discovered coliforms, indicating the need to look for potential problems in water treatment or distribution.
Coliforms are bacteria naturally present in the environment and may be an indicator that other, potentially harmful, waterborne pathogens may be present or that a potential pathway exists through which contamination may enter the drinking water distribution system.
When discovered, the Revised Total Coliform Rule states that civil engineers must conduct assessments to identify problems, find the source of the problem and take corrective action.
Hanscom AFB officials failed to conduct the assessment in October 2019 and submit it to Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection before the deadline.
What is being done?
Base officials completed a Level 2 Assessment as required by the Revised Total Coliform Rule and submitted it to MassDEP prior to the required Dec. 5 date.
What should base personnel do?
Base personnel need to take no action at this time.
For more information, contact Tech. Sgt. Ronnie McGee at 781-225-6365.