This is a 250,000 gallon storage tank for the Lower Floridan aquifer well located in the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team area on Fort Stewart.  This is one of several tanks tied to a loop system, meaning the tank can be supplied by any of the wells on Fort Stewart.
1 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – This is a 250,000 gallon storage tank for the Lower Floridan aquifer well located in the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team area on Fort Stewart. This is one of several tanks tied to a loop system, meaning the tank can be supplied by any of the wells on Fort Stewart. (Photo Credit: US Army photo) VIEW ORIGINAL
The Lower Floridan aquifer well being drilled at HAAF.  Workers shown here during the installation of a pipe which is attached to the submersible pump.  This well was drilled to ~1,100 feet.
2 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The Lower Floridan aquifer well being drilled at HAAF. Workers shown here during the installation of a pipe which is attached to the submersible pump. This well was drilled to ~1,100 feet. (Photo Credit: US Army photo) VIEW ORIGINAL
Nathaniel Williams, Aerostar Water Compliance Manager, flushing water within the distribution system to improve quality. Flushing water in the distribution system can also improve taste and odor therefore minimizing water complaints.
3 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Nathaniel Williams, Aerostar Water Compliance Manager, flushing water within the distribution system to improve quality. Flushing water in the distribution system can also improve taste and odor therefore minimizing water complaints. (Photo Credit: US Army photo) VIEW ORIGINAL
Nathaniel Williams, Aerostar Water Compliance Manager, samples water for pH prior to collecting a bacteriological sample.  MEDDAC, O&M, and the Environmental Division work together to collect samples on Fort Stewart and HAAF.
4 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Nathaniel Williams, Aerostar Water Compliance Manager, samples water for pH prior to collecting a bacteriological sample. MEDDAC, O&M, and the Environmental Division work together to collect samples on Fort Stewart and HAAF. (Photo Credit: US Army photo) VIEW ORIGINAL
Bacteriological samples are analyzed at the FSGA/HAAF Water Laboratory, which is operated by MEDDAC’s Environmental Health personnel.
5 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Bacteriological samples are analyzed at the FSGA/HAAF Water Laboratory, which is operated by MEDDAC’s Environmental Health personnel. (Photo Credit: US Army photo) VIEW ORIGINAL

Effectively managing two community drinking water systems, implementing a collaborative multi-unit surveillance strategy to ensure water quality, while simultaneously building strong community relationships has earned the Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield (FSGA-HAAF) Water Quality (WQ) Team a 2022 Secretary of the Army Environmental Award.

“Our WQ Team has focused on developing better efficiencies and connecting formerly stove-piped operations into a cohesive group that helps us meet all Army, state and federal drinking water standards,” Col. Manuel Ramirez, FSGA-HAAF garrison commander, said. “We’re dedicated to protecting the installation’s community while collaboratively developing creative solutions to ensure we maintain military training capabilities and critical support functions.”

One project that demonstrated the flexibility and innovation of the WQ Team was the replacement of an aging water storage tank. Rather than simply replacing the tank in kind, a collaborative assessment of requirements by the WQ Team resulted in a much better solution. The end result, two smaller tanks were installed – one for potable water, the other for fire suppression – improving both water quality and overall safety.

Removing stovepipes and expanding participation added an important cultural shift that helped lead to collective success of the team. By adopting a “See Something – Say Something” approach to water system operations and quality monitoring, all FSGA-HAAF affiliated agencies and personnel are empowered to participate as part of the shared mission of serving the community.

Another important improvement by the WQ Team was the establishment of a joint responsibility and accountability sampling protocol, which has allowed the installation to avoid repeat sampling and unnecessary public notifications due to sampling errors. As a result, the WQ Team has been lauded for its attention to effective regular monitoring to ensure full compliance with Georgia State regulations – collecting 40 bacteriological samples each month from the community systems and 12 samples each quarter from the non-community systems. To further improve water quality, an effective flushing program was implemented, and to improve efficient and timely response to emergencies, FSGA-HAAF has its own state-certified surveillance laboratory.

A vital component of the WQ Team’s success has been an extensive outreach program, which includes multiple briefings, committee meetings, community water forums as well as feedback sessions, roundtables and more. FSGA-HAAF Environmental Division Chief Thomas Fry said that bringing “the best science available” to these partnership sessions between federal and state agencies, universities, research institutions and non-governmental organizations, as well as U.S. Army experts, helps bolster public confidence.

The Annual Consumer Confidence Report (also known as the WQ Report) is an example of some of FSGA-HAAF’s outreach efforts. The WQ Team developed its easy-to-read report in a manner to best support transparency to their water patrons. The format of this report was commended by the Georgia Rural Water Association as being “well-organized, and visually appealing – allowing for easy interpretation.”

“Water quality is extremely important to our team, and the public knows it,” FSGA-HAAF Director of Public Works James Heidle said. “We’ve built on existing relationships, involved experts from multiple agencies and organizations, improved our processes and really set the groundwork for a highly effective WQ Team.”