Drinking water notice issued for RAF Lakenheath Published Oct. 23, 2012 By Staff Reports 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England -- Additional samples have been analyzed for benzo(a)pyrene and were reported below detection limits. The tap water on RAF Lakenheath is safe to drink. On 18 October 2012, a notice was issued to inform tap water consumers on RAF Lakenheath that the UK contract laboratory found elevated levels of benzo(a)pyrene in one drinking water sample collected on RAF Lakenheath on 2 October 2012. Follow-on samples were collected immediately upon notification of the benzo(a)pyrene elevated level and sent to the contract laboratory for further analyses. The follow-on sample results were reported below the detection limit (less than 0.0053 µg/L) for benzo(a)pyrene. The tap water is safe to drink. As stated in the previous notification, drinking water contaminated with benzo(a)pyrene at levels well above the US MCL (0.2 µg/L) over many years may result in reproductive difficulties and potential increased risk of getting cancer. However, these sample results together with past sample results confirm that the risk of adverse health effects from benzo(a)pyrene in the drinking water is negligible. Thank you for your patience in this matter. Be assured that Civil Engineering (48 CES) and Bioenvironmental Engineering (48 AMDS/SGPB) will continue to maintain and monitor the drinking water on RAF Lakenheath and will keep you informed if a risk is identified. For additional information, please contact Bioenvironmental Engineering at 01638 528 047 or DSN 226-8047.