CE responds to water line break

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Armando A. Schwier-Morales
  • 8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  The 8th Civil Engineer Squadron let the mission flow with the speed of a wolf on the hunt after a water line broke on the flightline Apr. 3, 2014.

Airmen from the 8th CES water and fuel systems maintenance shop, as well as the 8th CES pavement and heavy equipment operators, also known as the 'dirt boys', identified a broken cast iron pipe and began replacing it with a full force team.

"We had to run from the flightline to an off-base area," said Staff Sgt. Ryan Bombardier, 8th CES water and fuel systems maintenance shop technician. "Our response was great because it was in the middle of the night and we contained the problem and began our repair in a timely manner."

The broken pipe happened at approximately 4 a.m causing the base to stand up a boil water advisory. Due to an excess amount of water being released from the pipe, the base treatment plant was forced to cease operations.

However the team at the plant, with a little help from the local community, allowed operations to continue.

"I am extremely proud of how quickly my Engineers responded to the water line break," said Col. Carrie J. Bausano, 8th Mission Support Group commander. "Their ability to locate the break, isolate it and quickly make the repair was remarkable and ensured uninterrupted combat mission capability. But I would also be remise if I didn't also recognize the team effort from the 8th Forces Support Squadron, the Army and Air Force/Defense Commissary Agency, 8th Medical Group bio-environmental, Command Post and 8th Comptroller Squadron who pulled together to ease the disruption to the men and women of the Wolf Pack."

The Airmen from the 8th CES continued throughout the day to ensure a speedy repair.