Hydration at its finest

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Kristopher T. Levasseur
  • 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England --  Water is important in everyone's daily life. Everyone drinks it, use it to wash their cars, water their lawns and flush their toilets, but people usually don't pay much attention to it. Luckily the 48th Civil Engineering Squadron utilities flight has got their back.

The 48th Civil Engineering Squadron utility systems flight is responsible for keeping RAF Lakenheath's drinking water safe for the masses, treat waste water and reintegrate it into the environment as well as ensuring that water is reaches buildings and homes around the base.

"Anything that has to do with water, we do it," said Airman 1st Class Brian Petersen, 48th CES utility systems apprentice. "We handle things such as water treatment, plumbing, purification, fire prevention and backflow prevention."

The utility systems shop has many different crews. Everyday, the shop sends DIN or "Do-it-now" crews out on various small jobs around base. If the job is too long, another crew is sent out to assist. DIN crews usually complete 10-15 jobs a day.

"One additional duty that we have in an overseas location is that we actually handle the waste treatment," said Staff Sgt. Gabriel Sanders, 48th CES utility systems craftsman. "Traditionally in stateside locations, waste treatment is contracted out."

Other teams are sent out to deal with specific issues such as backflow devices cross-connections and potential health hazards.

"There are so many different aspects to the job," said Sergeant Sanders. "On any given day, I could be going out to work on interior plumbing or exterior plumbing; I could be plunging toilets or purifying water."

Even though the utility systems shop handles a lot of different aspects, they have one primary goal -- providing water to the base population.

"Water has always been the world's most precious natural resources and it is our responsibility to make sure it gets to everyone on the base safely," said Airman Petersen.

A working water system is necessary to complete the mission and ensure the quality of life to the base population.

"People don't really think about water all that much, but when something goes wrong it becomes very apparent," said Sergeant Sanders.

Liberty Warriors have very little to worry about though.

With the 48th CES utility systems flight on the job day in and day out ensuring RAF Lakenheath's water supply is readily available, personnel can rest easy knowing that what they need is only a turn of the knob away.