Cannon airmen work to monitor water quality

CANNON AIR FORCE BASE — With three quarters of the earth's surface covered with water and a significant portion being non-potable, water filtration and treatment is important and necessary in order to consume one of earth's most abundant and precious resources. To the human body, water is essential. Without this vital component, human life could not be sustained.

U.S. Air Force photo: Capt. Anastasia Burgess

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Bartholomew Ziccardi Jr., 27th Special Operations Civil Engineer Squadron water and fuel system maintenance, tests a water sample for proper levels of chlorine, potential of hydrogen, hardness and fluoride Dec. 3 at Cannon Air Force Base.

According to the Water Information Program a government program, trillions of gallons of water are consumed in the U.S. every year and hundreds of dollars are spent purchasing filtered water. Residents at Cannon Air Force Base, however, do not need to worry about the cost or supply of clean and freshly filtered water thanks to the base water plant.

Cannon's water plant extracts samples of water from around the base daily, looking for proper levels of Chlorine, potential of hydrogen, hardness and fluoride. The water plant measures levels in the water to ensure it is balanced and safe for the base population to use in accordance with New Mexico water regulations.

The water plant works toward providing its population with low-fluoride water by processing it through a machine that removes high amounts of inorganic elements. The machine processes roughly 200,000 gallons of water for more than 5,000 base members annually.

"Improvement and expansion is in the near future for Cannon's water plant, to include a new and larger water tower," said Senior Airman Bartholomew Ziccardi Jr., 27th Special Operations Civil Engineer Squadron water and fuel system maintenance."Currently, the biggest tower holds 250,000 gallons. The new one will be able to hold 500,000 and will provide sufficient water pressure to coincide with the expansion of infrastructure and personnel."

In direct relation to the primary mission of the 27th Special Operations Mission Support Group, the Cannon water plant deals with the environmental management of base water supply and quality to ensure base sustainment and mission readiness.

The most gratifying aspect of his job, Ziccardi explained is knowing that every time one of Cannon's Airmen turns on a faucet, their water is going to be readily available and healthy to drink.