FORT McCOY, Wis. -- A four-member Army-level team spent three weeks at Fort McCoy to conduct a cross-connection survey in order to determine the extent of the installation’s cross-connection program. Cross connections exist when a potable water source is accidently connected to a non-potable water source.

Michael L. Miller, the Water and Wastewater branch chief for the Fort McCoy Directorate of Public Works, said the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources-mandated inspections revealed no major deficiencies, and the installation water is safe to drink, he said.

Captains Ran Du, Gregory Schaefer, Ebenezer Ogbonna, and Yaw Frimpong, all Environmental Science and Engineering officers for the U.S. Army Public Health Command Region-North Environmental Health Engineering Division, conducted the survey at Fort McCoy. The organization sends officers to various Army sites to conduct environmental work, as required.

The work includes visual inspections to see if potable and non-potable water sources are separated through the use of a backflow preventer device, Du said. This includes ensuring any necessary devices protecting against cross-contamination concerns are functioning as well.

“We are surveying the post to identify possible hazards to the domestic water supply,” Du said. “Fort McCoy has about 1,500 buildings. These buildings have been easy to do because many are homogenous and have about the same design.”

These Army officers said Fort McCoy’s Geographical Information System section is one of the best they encountered and helped make their job easier by providing accurate information about the buildings and water systems.

The teams trace the water lines inside buildings to determine whether they have proper protection against the accidental backflow of the water and then record their observations and general data.

The team will report to Fort McCoy regarding its findings and provide any recommendations for deficiencies.

Miller said this survey reinforced the fact the installation provides a safe and quality drinking water supply.

Fort McCoy’s water system also is required by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to conduct/document annual water source testing/reviews to ensure it is offering safe, quality drinking water to the meet the installation’s needs, he said.

The 2010 drinking water quality report is available online at the website www.mccoy.army.mil. For more information, call Miller at 608-388-6546.

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