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Water, fuels shop keeps operations flowing smoothly

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Christopher Maldonado
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  
Every morning you wake up there is a non-stop flow of water and gas right under your feet. Miles of pipeline follow you; whether driving, biking, or walking around base these lines are there.

The water and gas, as well as the pipelines below Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, must be treated periodically to ensure that members of Team Shaw can maintain adequate living conditions. What happens in the situation where these pipes and the resources inside become untreated?

How would you go about your day with no running water or natural gas?

No need to worry Team Shaw, a group of dedicated-Airmen, work around the clock to ensure you have potable water and fuel for the many mission vehicles around base.

Water is vital to the survival of the human race, and ensuring this compound is safe for consumption is one of the many roles Airmen assigned to the 20th Civil Engineer Squadron water and fuels systems shop are entrusted to accomplish.

Water and fuels shop Airmen maintain and repair approximately 580,000 linear feet of water and sewer mains, over 87,000 linear feet of natural gas lines and over 20,000 linear feet of fuel lines year-round.

The maintenance of these pipelines helps create adequate sanitary conditions, to include heated water and efficient sewage for members who work and live on Shaw.

“We cover the base’s water, waste water, gasoline and backflow systems,” said Staff Sgt. James Frye, 20th CES water and fuels systems craftsman. “We also maintain the natural gas that fuels all the base boilers, water heaters and other devices.”

These Airmen are not limited to only Shaw’s underground but also the structures that hover over the base ... the water towers.

Shaw has water towers that hold approximately 3.5 million gallons of treated water.

“The higher the water is in the air the more water pressure you will get,” said Frye. “The water towers help increase the pressure allowing a more intense flow.”

Water and fuels shop Airmen operate seven wells, as well as water mains that help produce the water needed to go into the towers.

To properly maintain the water and fuels in the pipelines, these Airmen network with partnering career fields to ensure mission effectiveness.

“Whether it’s contacting bioengineering for a fire systems test or lending out water buffalos for other services, we have to coordinate with other squadrons in order to complete our job,” said Staff Sgt. Ryan Schmutzler, 20th CES water and fuels system craftsman.

Through proper coordination, the water and fuels shop helps maintain more than 2 million gallons of aviation and vehicle fuel, and the fuels pump sites.

The water and fuels shop plays a large role in ensuring that Shaw’s fleets, both on the ground and in the air, are ready to tackle any task that may be thrown their way.

“We work with the petroleum, oil, and lubricant shop to ensure that the gas dispensers’ work, so our government vehicles being used by flightline maintainers, security forces, and other users are fueled and ready to complete the mission,” said Frye.

Next time you travel to work, whether working in an office building or on the flightline, don’t forget about the thousands of miles of pipeline that run underneath your feet, and the group of dedicated Airmen who work on maintaining them and the mission-essential resources inside.