Navy seeks OK to provide water to personnel living off base in Naples

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Navy seeks OK to provide water to personnel living off base in Naples
By Lisa M. Novak, Stars and Stripes
European edition, Thursday, September 11, 2008

NAPLES, Italy — A formal request to buy and distribute water to off-base residents in Naples now sits with the Navy’s top leader.

Secretary of the Navy Donald Winter has not yet seen the request submitted by Rear Adm. David Mercer, commander of Navy Region Europe, but it "has arrived at the Pentagon and is being routed," according to Winter’s spokeswoman.

Last month, Navy officials in Naples said no decision had been made on the Navy’s purchasing of the water. However, a preliminary plan indicated that off-base residents would receive five liters of drinking water per day and that the use of bottled water would be mandatory for those living in homes where water testing indicated higher-than-permissible bacteria levels. The Navy now says that people should receive four liters per day.

Navy officials are advising all off-base residents to use bottled water because they may be exposed to contaminants in their homes.

The Navy is currently conducting a health assessment on air, soil and water quality as a result of concerns over the decadeslong trash crisis in Naples.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=57339