A look at water quality
on Navy bases in Europe
ITALY
Naval Station Activity
La Maddalena, Sardinia:
Water is supplied via public water systems. The poor-quality water is considered
nondrinkable. However, water is supplied by the public systems for nonconsumptive uses,
such as bathing. During summer months, the quantity of water is often insufficient and
rationing is common. For example, during August to December 2000, many U.S. personnel
reported being without water for one day or more at various times. The Navy purchases
water for delivery to certain locations (Trinita and Paradiso areas) to augment the water
supply. The Navy provides bottled water to all residents of Navy-operated housing and to
all employees of La Maddelena.
Naval Support Activity Naples:
NSA Naples consists of four main areas in and around the city of Naples. They are the
NSA activity at Capodichino near the airport, Agnano and Carney Park located in Pozzuoli,
and the new support site at Gricignano di Aversa.
Capodichino: Drinking water is provided by the local municipal water system. The
municipal system provides water to the Navy’s treatment plant at Capodichino. The
plant filters the water to reduce mineral salts and then disinfects it with a chlorine
additive. The quality of the municipal water and the treated water is ensured through a
three-step testing program.
Gricignano: Drinking water is provided by the local municipal water system. Water
sampling and analysis continue to demonstrate that the drinking water is of good quality.
Agnano: Water is provided by the local municipal water system. Because of problems that
occurred years ago with occasional positive biological test results, Agnano’s water
has been declared nondrinkable. The Navy provides bottled water to employees. Activities
at Agnano are being transferred to Capodichino and Gricignano as new facilities become
available.
Carney Park: Water for this recreational area is provided by the local municipal water
system. The facility consists of a swimming pool, golf course, recreational fields and
cabins. Because of problems that occurred years ago with positive biological test results,
Carney Park’s water has been declared nondrinkable. The Navy provides bottled water
for Carney Park personnel and guests. Some wells located in Carney Park provide water for
irrigation and other nonpotable uses.
Naval Support Activity Gaeta:
Water Facts
Some information about water.
- Up to 60 percent of the human body is water.
- About 70 percent of the Earth’s surface is covered by water.
- U.S. commissaries in Europe sell 31 different kinds of European waters
-— including natural, mineral and flavored — from 10 companies.
- It takes about 40 gallons of water to produce an 8-ounce serving of
cantaloupe and 14 gallons to yield a medium orange.
- A person can live about a month without food, but only about a week
without water.
- One billion people make a three-hour journey on foot each day just to
obtain their drinking water.
- More than 10 million people die from water-related diseases each year.
- About 80 percent of all sickness in the world is attributable to unsafe
water and sanitation.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Environmental Protection
Agency, World Health Organization, World Resources Institute and Water Education
Foundation |
Monte Orlando: Drinking water is provided by the local municipal water system. In
December 2000 and January 2001, the mayor of Gaeta issued an ordinance prohibiting
drinking water from the municipal water supply; water was not prohibited for other uses.
Both of these prohibitions lasted about 10 days. Bottled water was provided for U.S.
personnel during this period.
SPAIN
Naval Station Rota:
The installation’s drinking water is treated surface water from the Spanish Water
Confederation. Extensive Navy testing indicates that Rota has a consistently high quality
of water. The station also has a policy that water coolers must be lead- and copper-free
prior to installation. The Navy tests the drinking water daily where it enters the
installation to ensure it contains the required chlorine residual. If necessary, the Navy
supplements the chlorine level and adds fluoride. The installation tests the drinking
water more frequently and in more locations than prescribed to allow better operational
control of the distribution system.
In January, Rota’s drinking water level exceeded standards for turbidity due to
increased amounts of clay particles caused by an unseasonably rainy winter in southern
Spain. Although the turbidity was not visible, the station’s lab detected it during
routine analysis. The turbidity did not pose a risk to human health, but residents and
workers were still notified.
In November 1999, the installation issued a high-turbidity notice to a localized
residential area due to a waterline break. The water was safe for general use, but
residents were urged to drink bottled water.
GREECE
Naval Support Activity
Souda Bay, Crete:
Drinking water is supplied by the City of Hania municipal water system. The city
provides treatment for the water supply. Like most Greek domestic supplies on the island
of Crete, the source water is obtained from deep wells and springs.
A series of pipes convey the water from Hania to NSA Souda Bay via a nearby NATO
installation and the adjacent Hellenic Air Force Base.
Souda Bay’s water system operator tests the water supply’s chlorine residual
on a daily basis. If the disinfectant level is low, the operator makes adjustments.
The Navy has collected lead and copper samples at 20 sites on a semi-annual basis.
These samples have consistently met quality standards. Samples are collected for a full
spectrum analysis every year. Analysis has indicated that the overall quality of drinking
water is good.
Souda Bay recently drilled a well on the installation to serve as an emergency water
source.
NSA Souda Bay uses lead-free components and fixtures for all water system construction
and repair. Most of the facilities were constructed after the use of lead solder was
banned by the United States for use in drinking water systems.
UNITED KINGDOM
Commander,
Naval Activities (London):
COMNAVACT UK installations get drinking water from Thames Water and Three Valleys Water
Services, which provides drinking water for 9.4 million customers, including Navy
personnel living in the area. Water is extracted from various rivers, streams and lakes
and held in reservoirs to ensure water availability throughout the year.
Water quality is excellent. A drinking water specialist consultant provides analytical
survey results to confirm data provided by the water company.
A number of elevated readings for copper and lead were reported at three facilities in
the London area. A flushing program has been implemented to reduce these concentrations;
this has been verified as successful. However, removing the accumulated sediments, debris
and/or corrosion byproducts from the distribution system piping will require a
unidirectional flushing program, which is planned for later this year.
Joint Maritime Facility
St. Mawgan:
Joint Maritime Facility St. Mawgan is a tenant command of the Royal Air Force located
in the county of Cornwall, which gets drinking water from Southwest Water Services Ltd.
Southwest Water provides high quality drinking water.
Southwest Water uses three reservoirs, with treatment provided at several stages.
Chlorine may be added depending on the season and consumption. The RAF employs specialist
consultants to maintain the quality of drinking water supplied to the installation.
THE SERIES:
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