scope:

Purpose

a. This publication provides general instructions and detailed technical guidance and recommendations for the sanitary control and surveillance of land-based field water supplies. Adherence to the guidance and recommendations in this document will help ensure that water produced, treated, and provided by U.S. Military Services and contractors in the operational environment is of the highest quality possible and that it will support and sustain the health and performance of deployed personnel.

b. This publication-

(1) Revises the military (formerly Tri-service) short- and long-term Military Field Water Standards (MFWS) applicable to land-based deployment operations and training exercises. When field water supplies do not meet these standards, preventive medicine (PM) personnel determine the health risk posed to personnel who continue to drink the water and recommend appropriate actions to the commander. For the remainder of this publication, ―PM‖ means Army Preventive Medicine, Naval Preventive Medicine Authority, and Air Force Bioenvironmental Engineer (BEE) and Bioenvironmental Engineering (BE) technician.

(2) Describes PM procedures for recommending raw water sources for treatment and approving treated water for drinking and other activities.

(3) Recommends procedures for PM oversight of operational water quality monitoring and medical surveillance, and practices for ensuring continued acceptable water quality.

(4) Describes procedures for assessing health risks associated with using water that does not meet the minimum standards and guidelines provided herein.

(5) Defines PM roles, responsibilities, and routine actions related to ensuring the quality of water intended for drinking, showering, and personal sanitation during training exercises and in operational environments.

(6) Describes how certain non-PM roles and actions relate to the safety of field water supplies, and recommends methods to minimize field water vulnerabilities to intentional destruction and contamination.

(7) Provides health-related guidance for the management of waste materials resulting from water treatment activities in operational environments.