Update: Altus AFB water quality Published March 19, 2014 By Senior Airman Levin Boland 97th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- The 97th Medical Operations Squadron bioenvironmental engineering flight routinely monitors for two sets of disinfection byproducts called haloacetic acids and total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) in drinking water to ensure it is not a health risk to the base population. The level of TTHMs at the base water system for Feb. 1, 2013 through Feb. 1, 2014 averaged 150.48 parts per billion. This exceeded the standard 80 parts per billion set by the Environmental Protection Agency, although it is not an immediate risk to human health. "TTHM contain four different chemicals; chloroform, bromoform, dibromochloromethane and dichlromobromomethane," said U.S. Air Force Capt. Megan Batten, 97th bioenvironmental engineering element chief. "Trihalomethanes are classified as disinfection byproducts from chlorine treatment in the water." Despite the elevated TTHM level, an alternate source of water is not necessary. There are steps base members may take to reduce these levels in drinking water. "What we would recommend is to use an activated charcoal filter," said U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Daniel Burdick, NCO in charge of environmental health. "That will actually be able to filter out the VOCs or volatile organic carbons. If you would like you can also leave the tap water out overnight and the VOCs will air out." Since August 2013, TTHM levels have gone down 32.07 parts per billion, although they are expected to rise again during warmer weather. "With hotter weather there is more of an opportunity for bacteria growth," said Batten. "There will be higher levels of byproducts as organic matter goes up." The base receives treated water directly from the City of Altus treatment center. The City of Altus is working to complete renovations to the current water treatment system, which will provide Altus AFB with reduced levels of TTHMs. The city hopes to complete these renovations by the summer of 2014.