USAG Ansbach drinking water tested safe against lead

ANSBACH, Germany (October 24, 2019) –The U.S. Army Garrison Ansbach Directorate of Public Works (DPW) sampled water from the Urlas Family Housing Area, Ansbach Elementary School, and Katterbach Fitness Center in July.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency enforces compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act, including the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR). The LCR is a federal drinking water regulation that sets action levels for lead and copper in water. The lead action level is 15 parts per billion (ppb).

“Ninety-five percent of the samples came back below the level of 15 parts per billion,” said Daniel Woernlein, Environmental Protection Specialist, DPW Environmental Management Division. “At locations with an elevated lead level, immediate corrective actions, such as changing aerators/filter and flushing lines, solved the issue verified by follow-up sampling results.”

Every year, Installation Management Command-Europe requires 20 percent of the primary drinking water be tested for lead at high-risk facilities including Child Development Centers, Elementary Schools, Youth Centers, and Army Family Housing with children under the age of six years.

Three samples, taken from the faucets in the kitchen or water fountains, and an additional one-time sampling in the bathrooms, were sent to the U.S. Army Public Health Center Landstuhl for centralized analysis.

The first sample was taken immediately as the water was turned on, and again after it had been running for 30 seconds and two minutes, said Woernlein.

DPW recommends the community routinely change or clean the aerators in faucets and shower heads. For on-post residents, standard aerators or shower heads are available at the DPW Self Help, free of charge.

Legionella

IMCOM-E certified contractor sampled between April and July 2019

DPW addressed the results and corrected all issues verified by follow-up sampling

Public notification was posted on September 25, 2019

Information on drinking water suppliers

Information still up-to-date: https://ansbachhometownherald.com/potable-water/