Baumholder returns waterworks at Hoppstädten, Pfeffelbach to German government

By Ignacio "Iggy" RubalcavaJanuary 12, 2015

The Department of Defense announced the results of the European Infrastructure Consolidation study Jan. 8, highlighting the Baumholder Military Community's waterworks at Hoppstädten and Pfeffelbach as two of seven sites in Germany to be fully returned to the German government.

This is expected to happen sometime in 2018, after the military community is integrated into the city's water supply, according to an announcement made Jan. 8 at a personnel assembly on Smith Barracks by Col. G. Shawn Wells Jr., U.S. Army Garrison Rheinland-Pfalz commander. The return of the two waterworks plants to the German government will result in the reduction of 15 local national positions.

"I have talked to the mayor, and he said they will look at possibly hiring them with the city when we transition over to the city water system," said Wells.

The USAG Rheinland-Pfalz will also return Husterhoeh Kaserne in Pirmasens and partly return Pulaski Barracks in Kaiserslautern.

"Additionally, some units will be relocating within the garrison and others will be moving here from other locations," said Wells.

As a result of the structure reorganization, U.S. Army Garrison Rheinland-Pfalz expects to see a net gain of 136 military authorizations, as well as 536 U.S. civilian and 32 local national positions, according to Wells.

The reason the waterworks were selected for return is "because it shows trust with the city," said Wells.

The Department of Defense closure announcement included numerous other actions in Europe that will take place over the next eight years.

"These actions will ensure resources are used most efficiently in these fiscally constrained times to strengthen the U.S. posture in Europe, while eliminating excess infrastructure," said Wells.