Vandenberg AFB to save 1.1 billion gallons of water with new privatization deal

  • Published
  • By Jess Echerri
  • AFCEC Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  The Air Force recently signed a $299 million, 50-year contract with American Water Operations and Maintenance, Inc., a private utility company out of Voorhees, New Jersey, to privatize the water distribution and wastewater collection systems at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California.

To bring Vandenberg's water systems to industry standards, American Water plans to invest approximately $11 million in the first three years of the contract.

"Maintaining utility systems is no longer a core competency of the Air Force," said Rick Weston, head of the Air Force Civil Engineer Center Utilities Privatization program management office. "Private industry does it day in and day out, so they can normally do it cheaper than we can."

American Water plans to use a new technology that will save approximately 1.1 billion gallons of water during the contract lifespan by re-introducing potable water into the utility system during fire-hydrant flushing instead of dumping the water into storm drains.

"Vandenberg used to be Camp Cooke, which goes back to World War II," said Lt. Col. Ryan Novotny, 30th Civil Engineer Squadron commander. "We have water lines that go to parts of the base that might not have as much use as they once did."

The water will sit stagnant in remote lines where there is no demand, Novotny said. Over time the stagnant water is at risk for growing contaminates and must be flushed out through fire hydrants to maintain water cleanliness. The American Water technology will draw the stagnant water from the lines, provide chemical treatment and recycle the water back into the system.  

The Air Force has used utility privatization to upgrade base utility systems for more than 17 years. To date, 167 systems have been privatized, creating a cost avoidance of $511 million. Sixty Air Force utility systems, including electric, natural gas, water and wastewater, are currently in various stages of the privatization solicitation process.

With reductions in funding for installation support in recent years, utilities privatization is helping to fill the gap through more effective and efficient operations and maintenance programs.

For more information, contact the AFCEC reach back center at 888-232-3721 or afcec.rbc@us.af.mil.