Altus AFB Civil Engineers create conservation system

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Jennifer Seidl
  • 97th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  The 97th Civil Engineer Squadron, the "Dirt Boys" of the Horizontal Construction shop, are dedicated to keeping the environment clean and healthy and have recently improved a conservation system that traps contaminated water on base for mitigation and disposal.

"(It's) worth every penny in so many ways to the base and the environment. Everyone involved needs to know how much we appreciate efforts and how well it works," said Dan Staton, environmental compliance manager.

Recent improvements to the existing conservation system by the 97th Civil Engineer Squadron added a series of weirs (small overflow-type dams). The concrete walls of the system house three valves, which are opened or shut by hand. If an accident on the flight line should release pollutants, a single worker can reach the valves by or before the time the material reaches the weir, and the polluted water is locked behind concrete for clean up.

With the weir and retaining wall system, contamination is stopped about half a mile from exiting the base. In fact, by turning three bolts, contamination is held within concrete walls at the mouth of the runoff, preventing any contamination from the industrial side of the base, including the flight line, from entering the water system at all.

Ms. Cheryl Martin of the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality inspected the improved system on base, and said "I think this is going to work. It looks like it's doing a great job. I don't think anything is going to escape this, and that's very good."

Contamination of water leaving the base is an environmental hazard, and the base is subject to fines and clean up costs. The weir and retaining wall system cost $69,196; the estimated cost for a contractor to do the same work is $202,450. Without this improved control system, an accident could mean not only the cost of restoring any equipment, but paying for the clean up to the environment off base.

"This weir project is yet another example of the 'culture of innovation' we have here at Altus Air Force Base," said Colonel Ty Thomas, commander of the 97th Air Mobility Wing. "Our civil engineers saw an opportunity for improvement, and just went out and did it, at lower cost to our taxpayers and more quickly than if we had contracted out the work...and the result is even better protection of the environment and more effective mission accomplishment here at the Mighty 97th. I'm very proud of this team."

Click here for a list of the Altus Air Force Base Civil Engineers and the "Dirt Boys" who made it happen. For more information about how Altus Air Force Base invests in the local environment, contact Civil Engineering at 481-7345.