Valuing Water on World Water Day

By Antonino Piluso, NAS Sigonella Installation Energy Manager

World Water Day is celebrated every year on March 22 to focus attention on the importance of water in our planet. This year’s theme is valuing water.

The value of water is more than its price – water has incredible importance for our health, our food, our culture, our households, our education, our economics and the health of our natural environment.

Freshwater is particularly important here onboard Sigonella. We have often experienced unscheduled water outages due to water breaks in the main lines. As we have all learned, the lack of water in the office or in our homes has a significant impact on our daily life.

Our installation gets water from five wells that are operated by the Utility and Energy Management Branch of the Public Works Department (PWD). Each one of our wells draws water from a common aquifer utilized by local farmers for their irrigation needs. During the peak summer season, the water levels in the aquifers drop, which reduces well production. Each summer, we reach maximum water production and, on occasion, the base is at risk of imposing water restrictions.

PWD is working very hard every day to repair and maintain this critical utility. One example of PWD’s long term efforts is the upcoming completion of a project to utilize reclaimed water from the waste water treatment systems for irrigation on both NAS I and NAS II, thus reducing the required potable water, especially during the summer.

As we approach World Water Day, it is an excellent time to remember the benefits of conserving water. I encourage all of you to do your part to reduce your water usage every day. Every little bit counts, and one way to start is to be aware of the amount of water your use during your daily routine. Make sure not to waste water in every day’s activities and please report any leaky faucets to Public Works Department immediately by calling 624-6013. You play a major part in changing the water consumption of Sigonella!

If you would like to have any further information, don’t hesitate to contact the Installation Energy Manager Antonio Piluso (Antonino.piluso.it@ eu.navy.mil) or the Regional Energy Manager Matthew Tropiano (Matthew.Tropiano@eu.navy.mil) or go to visit http://worldwaterday.org/