ECES utilities replenish Airmen by the truckload

Published May 5, 2008
By Senior Airman Tong Duong
379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Working by street lights and headlamps, Airmen scramble in the dead of night to restack and organize the pallets upon pallets of bottled water needed in the arid desert environment.

Supported by more than 30 Airmen, the 379th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron utilities system shop works around the clock to operate and maintain water and fuels infrastructure such as hydrants, cadillac latrines, water tanks, aviation gasoline tanks, and the base fuel service station.

"Our team [also] does water quality inspections at the dining facilities and coffee shops, fire suppression systems, and fuels maintenance," said Master Sgt. Russell Routon, 379th ECES noncommissioned officer in charge of utilities systems deployed from Ramstein Air Base, Germany.

While the utilities team has many responsibilities, the distribution of potable and non- potable water throughout the base is their main mission.

"We transport approximately 48,000 bottles to 18 drop points and 216 spaces per day," Sergeant Routon said. "The base consumes approximately 8.6 million bottles of water over a six-month period."

Without a constant supply of water, sanitation and hygiene for more than 8,000 U.S. and coalition forces servicemembers would come to a standstill, Sergeant Routon said.

Some examples of what the utilities team have accomplished this rotation include supporting the Army Patriot Missile site relocation, relocating cadillacs during the C-130 Coalition Ramp move and the installation of the North Ramp ultra-violet system, which will be coming online in the next couple of months, said Sergeant Routon. The system is designed to kill bacteria and micro-organisms in the water.

One reccurring challenge the utilities team encounters here is procuring the right parts needed for repairs.

"Some of the local vendors don't have what we require," Sergeant Routon said. "We have to go through vendors in the states, which can be a lengthy process.

With the base going from expeditionary to enduring, we've [got] new facilities coming online and [don't always know exactly] what to expect."

Some things here have been piecemilled to the point where piping and fittings are sized in both millimeter and standard, he said.

While the utilities team has encountered challenges, they have streamlined and improved their processes.

"We recently took over the base fire suppression systems and had to build a preventive maintenance and inspection program from the ground up," Sergeant Routon said. "Our team also re-organized the massive section in our parts warehouse and identified shortfalls and overages. We now have 100 percent accountability for the upcoming bench stock initiative."

Staff Sgt. John Gee, 379th ECES utilities systems specialist from McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., said he enjoys seeing a big job come to completion.

"I really enjoy seeing all our hard work come together to make something out of nothing," Sergeant Gee said.

As utilities team members work day and night to bring potable water to base patrons, they have also helped to transition the base to a more enduring infrastructure.

"Years ago, all of our facilities on base had to rely on bottled water for a potable source," Sergeant Routon said. "During this rotation, residents and offices are enjoying the fruits of our labors when they turn on a faucet and have potable water."