LESSON 5
FIELD WATER TREATMENT
5-1.
GENERAL
The production of potable water for troop consumption is clearly a responsibiIity
of the Quartermaster Corps. This responsibiIity includes water reconnaissance,
development of water sources, treatment and distribution of potable water, quality
control testing, and coordinating with Army Medical Department (AMEDD) agencies or
units on inspection and testing procedures. The AMEDD is responsible for inspecting
water points and faciIities, conducting necessary tests, and making recommendations
on water sources, treatment, and disposal of by-products of treatment. WhiIe the
preventive medicine specialist need not be a trained and qualified operator of water
purification equipment, he must have sufficient famiIiarity with the equipment and its
operation to enable him to inspect a water point and evaluate its operation. The
concepts discussed in this lesson should be considered from the standpoint of an
environmental health specialist conducting an inspection of an engineer water point.
5-2.
DETERMINING WATER SOURCE ADEQUACY
One of the basic requirements of a water source is that the quantity be sufficient
to meet the needs of the troops that must be supplied from the source. Several
methods are available to the environmental health specialist for estimating the quantity
of water from a given source.
a. Impounded Waters. Where the water source is an impounded body of water
such as a lake, pond, or a reservoir, the volume of water contained may be roughly
approximated by multiplying the surface area (in square feet) by the average depth in
feet. (Note: If the surface area is given in acres, multiply the number of acres by
43,560 to convert to square feet.). The result, expressed in cubic feet, may be
multiplied by 7.48 (1 cubic foot = 7.48 gallons) to obtain the volume or capacity in
gallons. More accurate means of measurement are available; however, they require a
more detailed knowledge of the contours of the reservoir below the water level and are
beyond the scope of this subcourse (and beyond the preventive medicine specialist's
responsibiIity). For very small bodies of water, it may be more practical to determine
the rate of flow at the outlet as described in subparagraph c, below.
b. Ground Waters. If a water source is a well with a pump, or a spring which
has been dammed or prepared as in figure 5-1, the flow can be measured as it leaves
the discharge pipe provided the pipe is horizontal, flowing full, and without contractions
and/or enlargements. The flow in such a pipe may be determined by a formula
(see figure 5-2); or by tables (see Table 5-1) when the vertical distance remains
constant.
MD0160
5-2