Public Health Command Europe strengthens water safety expertise through annual DVGW partnership

Public Health Command Europe personnel from the Environmental Health Sciences and Laboratory Sciences Divisions completed their annual professional exchange with the German Association of Gas and Water (Deutscher Verein des Gas- und Wasserfachs e.V.) on Oct. 9.

This ongoing collaboration, established in 2015, reinforces PHCE’s commitment to ensuring safe and sanitary drinking water systems on U.S. Army installations throughout Europe.

This year’s event, coordinated by Bettina Eckels, PHCE Environmental Engineer and Stefan Neuschwander from the DVGW Regional Office Saarland, focused on the intricacies of water treatment and delivery, moving beyond infrastructure operation to examine the materials and manufacturing processes critical to water quality.

The group toured facilities operated by the municipal utilities, including two water treatment plants and a state-of-the-art drinking water laboratory.

The visit provided a comprehensive look at how drinking water and wastewater are managed for both German households and U.S. Army facilities. Participants, comprised of environmental health scientists, laboratory scientists, and industrial health professionals, split into groups to maximize learning opportunities.

“The collaboration between Public Health Command Europe and its host nation counterparts is incredibly valuable,” says Eckels. “It builds trust, improves effectiveness, and enhances operational capabilities.” 

PHCE’s Environmental Health Engineering Section plays a vital role in ensuring the safety of drinking water on Army installations. This includes rigorous oversight of water systems, ensuring they are operated and maintained to the highest standards. The annual DVGW partnership is a key component of this effort.

This year’s event underscores the importance of collaboration in maintaining safe drinking water supplies. By learning from German expertise, PHCE strengthens its capabilities to safeguard water quality for Soldiers, Families, and civilian employees stationed in Europe.

The partnership serves as a model for proactive engagement and continuous improvement in environmental health practices.