Potable Water - Potable Water Supply

Water Storage Tanks - Disinfection

Before putting into operation, whenever entered, and when bacterial evidence shows contamination.

Disinfectant

Chemical or physical process that kills microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and protozoa.

Block Ice Samples

Chip outer layer, collect portion of internal layer but not core.

Free Available Chlorine - FAC

Chlorine available after chlorine demand has been satisfied.

Combined Available Chlorine - CAC

Chlorine products formed by the reaction of equilibrium products of ammonia.

Bottled Water

Classified as a food product in accordance with Federal Law and DoD regulation.

Total Coliforms

Coliform bacteria to include fecal coliforms

Natural Bathing Area

Collect 25 feet from shore in water at least 2.5 feet deep but in the same manner for swimming pools.

Presence/Absence Analysis - Negative

Colorless, no E Coli or total coliforms

Step #10 in solving a Waterborne Disease Outbreak

Communicate findings (Prepare final report, don't use names of patients, follow SOP on distribution)

Sanitary Defects

Conditions that may cause contamination of a water supply system before or after treatment.

Potable Water Surveillance Program

Coordinate liaison for routine and emergency communication with Public Works/Water Purveyor.

Sodium Thiosulfate

De-chlorinating agent used for bacteriological analysis

Step #4 in solving a Waterborne Disease Outbreak

Define and identify cases (Attemp additional cases, confirm outbreak)

Step #5 in solving a Waterborne Disease Outbreak

Describe and orient data such as time, place, and person.

Step #6 in solving a Waterborne Disease Outbreak

Develop hypothesis

Evironmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Developed and enforces the Safe Drinking Water Act.

Non-Coliform

Organism not found in the gastrointestinal system of warm-blooded animals

Heterotrophic Bacteria

Organism requiring organic source of energy, utilizes nutrients in water and biofilm to grow

Aerobic

Organism requiring oxygen for growth

Pathogen

Organism that causes disease

Anaerobic

Organism that grows without oxygen

Water Storage - Sanitary Standards

Overflows 6" above grade, located 50 ft from and higher than sewer systems also overflow/drain pipes not connected to sewers.

Air Gap

Physical separation to prevent backflow, distance is equal to twice the diameter of the outlet but never less than 1".

Swimming Pool Sample

Plunge bottle 6" below the surface water and at a 45 degree angle.

Presence/Absence Analysis - Yellow and Flourescence Equal or Greater Than Comparator

Positive for E Coli

Presence/Absence Analysis - Yellow Equal or Greater Than Comparator

Positive for coliforms

Disposal Procedures - Negative

Pour in sink and flush with plenty of water

Ozone (O3)

Powerful disinfectant leaves no residual and not effective in controlling biological contaminants.

Step #1 in solving a Waterborne Disease Outbreak

Prepare for field work (Assemble materials - stool kits, investigative forms)

Filtration

Process for removing particulate matter by passage through porous media.

Army Deputy Chief of Staff (G-4/DCS)

Provide online data on the location, quantity, and quality of land-based water resources to DoD.

Step #8 in solving a Waterborne Disease Outbreak

Refine hypothesis

Check Valve

Self-closing device that allows the flow of fluids in one direction.

Sterilize

2 hours minimum @ 170 degrees C in oven (preferable method) or autoclave @ 121 degrees C for 15 minutes at 15 PSI

Spread Plate Method

Accommodates 0.1ml-0.5ml volume or diluted samples, colonies grow faster, and colonies produces are distinct. Uses 100x15 or 90x15mm sterile petri dish.

Pour Plate Method

Accommodates 0.1ml-2.0ml volume or diluted samples, produces small colonies, and colonies grow slow. Uses 100x15 or 90x15mm sterile petri dish.

Disposal Procedures - Positive

Add household bleach to top of tubes, cap tightly and mix/let stand for 20 mins, pour down sink and flush with water or autoclave for 20 mins @ 121 deg C in biobag and discard properly.

Chloramines

Addition of ammonia to water that contains free chlorine and controls coliforms.

Preventive Medicine Authority

Advisory role and provides public health related consultant assistance as needed.

Contaminant

Anything found in water which may be harmful to human health.

Super Chlorination-Dechlorination

Application of chlorine in greater concentrations that control taste and odor producing substances.

AR 200-1

Army Policy on Environmental Protection and Enhancement

AR 40-5

Army Policy on Preventive Medicine

TB MED 577

Army Policy on Sanitary Control and Surveillance of Field Water Supplies

TB MED 576

Army Policy on Sanitary Control and Surveillance of Water Supplies at Fixed Installations

TB MED 575

Army Policy on Swimming Pools and Bathing Faclilities

Regional Environmental Coordinators (REC)

Assists claimants with issues and communications CNO, Federal, State, and local regulators.

Media Preperation

Autoclave 121 deg C for 15 mins, pH should be at 7.0 (+/-) 0.2 after autoclaving, media ready in 13-18 mins after melting, and maintain water bath between 44-66 deg C no more than 3 hours

Backsiphonage

Backflow resulting from negative pressures in the distribution pipes

Halogen

Elements that are highly reactive, harmful, and lethal to biological organisms. (Flourine, Chlorine, Bromine, Iodine, and Astatine)

Whirlpak

Ensure sterility, comes with or without sodium thiosulfate, needs no autoclave, ready to use from factory

Pulblic Works Officer (USN) and Maintenance Officer(USMC)

Ensure water supply is free of disease-producing organisms, hazardous toxic materials, and objectionable color/odor/taste in coordination with installation medical authority.

OPNAV Instruction 5090.1 Series

Environmental and Natural Resources Program Manual

Step #2 in solving a Waterborne Disease Outbreak

Establish the existence of an outbreak (Receive complaints - Local medical dept usually initiates alert)

Army Surgeon General

Establish, determine, test bulk, conduct, assist in the development of potable and nonpotable water quality standards.

Step #7 in solving a Waterborne Disease Outbreak

Evaluate hypothesis

Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)

Federal law that regulates the publics drinking water supply signed into law on Dec 16, 1974.

Backflow

Flow of non-potable water or other liquids, mixtures, or substances in the potable water system.

Army Chief of Engineers (COE)

Formulate policies, comply with Clean Water Act; Construct, maintain, and operate permanent/semi-permanent water systems associated with "Force Provider" support sites.

Plate Count Agar

High nutrient agar, used when expecting low colony count, pour and spread plate methods(standard plate counts)

m-HPC Agar and/or Broth

High nutrient medium, membrane filter only

Step #9 in solving a Waterborne Disease Outbreak

Implement control and prevention measures (Priority during each investigation, controls measures)

Springs

Intersection of an aquifer thats not always of good microbiological quality

Colilert Reminders

Keep away from light, stored between 2-30 deg C, dry/free-flowing/white to off white in color, when incubation exceeds 28 hrs only negative samples are valid, shelf life @ 12 months from manufacturing date.

Surface Water

Large-scale water supply systems include rivers, lakes, and streams.

Army Commanders of Engineer Units

Locate and develop water resources

R2A Agar

Low nutrient agar, used for pour plate, spread plate and membrane filters

Presence/Absence Analysis - Less Yellow Than Comparator

May be incubated for an additional 4 more hours but not more than 28 hours total

Faculative Anaerobes

Microorganisms that don't require oxygen for growth but do better with it.

Sample Bottle

Minimum capacity of 120 ml

Coliform Bacteria

Natural bacteria of the gastrointestinal system of warm-blooded animals.

Factors to consider when outbreak occurs thought to involve a water system

Source of water, water treatment method, recent problems with system, recent water testing results, recent repairs/alternations, and recent power outages/water disruptions.

Fecal Coliforms

Specific organisms developed on media incubated @ 44.5 deg C

BUMED Instruction 6240.10 Series

Standards for Potable Water

Army Commanders of Quartermaster Units

Test, treat, store, and distribute potable water.

Total Available Chlorine

The sum of the chlorine forms present as free available chlorine and combined available chlorine.

Biofilm

Thin coating of microbial cells immobolized on a pipe surface and harbor pathogenic organisms

Raw Water

Untreated water before entering a treatment unit such as streams, lakes, and ponds.

Potable Water Storage - Distribution Reservoirs

Used for fire fighting, satisfy peak demands, support uniform water pressure, meet industrial demands, avoid continuous pumping, and provide emergency water reserve.

Membrane Filter Method

Used in swimming pools, accommodates large volumes of water, expensive to use(47mm gridded), uses 50x90 mm petri dish.

Step #3 in solving a Waterborne Disease Outbreak

Verify diagnosis (Collect clinical specimans)

Treated Water

Water ready for consumption undergone processing such as sedementation, filteration, softening, and disinfection.

Ground Water

Wells or springs, used in smaller water systems

Waterborne Disease Outbreak (WBDO)

When 2 or more people experience a similar illness, single case of chemical poisoning, or a single case of amebic meningoencephalitis from water.

Chlorine (Cl)

Widely used for routine disinfection of water; Calcium Hypochlorite(comes in granular for and corrosive); Sodium Hypochlorite(household bleach).