Providing Water And Wastewater Solutions For Our Military
By Sean Wheatley
If you want a job done right, you go to a professional — someone who specializes in the task and can make it a priority. Many of us do this when it comes to personal tasks such as oil changes, home repairs and more. The same should be said when it comes to our water systems.
Water and wastewater privatization offers a solution for cities and municipalities looking to improve and maintain systems that help keep life flowing with safe, clean, reliable, and affordable water. Similarly, Utilities Privatization (“UP”) benefits military operations across the country — the Department of Defense established the UP program, allowing utility experts to own and operate utility systems on base to help improve utility efficiency, reliability, and resiliency.
Traditionally, we looked to government entities for the day-to-day operations, maintenance, and replacement of the water and wastewater systems on military bases, on top of an extensive list of critical responsibilities. Working with partners like American Water’s Military Services Group through UP, the government can be confident that water and wastewater utility system assets at our military installations are safe and compliant.
The Importance Of Water On Military Bases
It is crucial to understand how important water is to any military installation. You might not realize how much safe, clean and reliable water impacts daily life on base, as well as operations. Just like systems for any city or town, an interruption in water supply means that people who live and work on base — servicemembers, their families and a variety of civilian personnel — cannot drink, wash their hands, shower, etc. But it also impacts daily operations and the overall mission. Many mission systems, processes, and equipment rely on reliable water and wastewater services. While the operating context is different, this parallels the criticality of water and wastewater systems to safety, wellbeing, and sustainability for any community across the nation.
American Water’s Military Services Group Is A Force Multiplier
While the government works hard to help ensure the continued flow of quality water for military bases and their operations, there are a few unavoidable, uphill battles in the current water and wastewater management landscape — items that water companies are able to dedicate both high-quality and quantity of resources to help mitigate.
For many systems across the country, including military installations, water infrastructure is reaching the end of its useful life, with some pipes nearing a century old. Maintenance is no longer enough — increased investment of capital and time is needed to help provide safe and reliable services today, and into the future.
Organizations that can offer size and scale of operations is an absolute advantage. Experts in water management, treatment, supply chain, security, and event response are crucial. By bringing in an organization whose sole focus is the job at hand, reduces the chance of necessary improvements being pushed down a list of priorities, and also allows the government to focus on their core mission of national defense and security.
In the case of American Water’s Military Services Group, we have been able to invest the time and financial resources needed to improve and properly maintain the water and wastewater systems at 17 bases across the country — soon to be 18 with the addition of Naval Station Mayport. With the weight and responsibility of how much life and protection this work entails, the team has and continues to make strides in water treatment and distribution on these bases, including expediting the ability to identify, address, and help resolve contaminants issues. In one particular case, a project initiated to address a contaminant-related issue was resolved within 38 days. The team is also able to work closely with the U.S. EPA, helping ensure that the same group working on the bases also has a seat at the table of the most important industry conversations. Overall, our main goal is to help keep life flowing on base.
Impact On Local Communities
The benefits of UP extend beyond the systems. The well-being of the community around military bases also comes into play.
When it comes to operations with this type of guaranteed investment, organizations such as American Water’s Military Services Group, engage with multiple contractors — many of whom are based in surrounding communities, resulting in a positive impact on the local economy. In addition, within UP contracts, there are requirements for how funding should be spent, in particular when it comes to smaller, traditionally disadvantaged businesses. Therefore, with utilities privatization comes guaranteed engagement with (and therefore economic support for) women-, veteran-, and minority-owned businesses.
Additionally, we continually identify ways to serve the base and local communities through donations and educational programs for children in school systems around our installations. We help teach the importance of water, water conservation, the environment and more.
American Water’s Military Services Group is proud to serve those who serve our country and do so safely.
Sean Wheatley currently serves as the Vice President of Operations for American Water’s Military Services Group. He has nearly 40 years’ experience in the water and wastewater industry, including the role of Instructor at the U.S. Army Water Treatment School. In his current role, Mr. Wheatley is responsible for daily operations and capital construction activities, along with health and safety, environmental program management, and technical support of our 17 military installations across the U.S. — soon to be 18 with the addition of Naval Station Mayport, FL.