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Show . three million gallons of water are Mineral content no health threat, say base officials v by SSgt. Louis A. Arana-Barrad- as Ogden ALC Public Affairs Office . While Hill AFB 's drinking water may not always look, smell or taste great, its mineral content doesn't pose a health threat, according to base officials. "We've kept track of data on the iron and manganese content of our water since 1955. Since that time, we've conducted 125 iron and 121 manganese analyses," Col. Philip G. Brown, the base's staff bioenviron-menta- l engineer, said. "Neither of the two minerals is toxic in the concentrations found in the Hill water supply," the colonel said. In fact, both elements are essential for human physiological functions and health, he said. Colonel Brown said that according to data collected from a national survey conducted in 1965, the average daily human intake of iron and manganese is 15 and five milligrams, respectively. "If a person drinks two liters of our water per day, that means that, for iron, the water intake would contrib- ute roughly 8 percent of the daily iron intake," Colonel Brown said. "Similarly, manganese intake would be calculated to be approximately 5 percent of the daily human intake. . "Iron and manganese have historically been present in drinking water supplies throughout the. nation especially water taken, from the ; ground," he said. That's also the case at Hill, where almost all the drinking water is pumped from ground aquifers. The base has seven wells from which about i . - U.S. Air Force Photo by Ralph leue Happy return Gen. Alfred G. Hansen, commander, Air Force Logistics Command, tells Col. William Lindsay, director of Quality Programs, that Hill AFB is taking the lead in the command's quality program. The general made his second quality visit to the base in nine months, Wednesday and Thursday. "I am extremely pleased with how well the quality programs are going here at Hill," the general said. During his visit, the general discussed local initiatives with hundreds of workers. Full coverage of the commander's visit to the base will appear in next week's Hilltop Times. Secretary Cheney is the last of the president's cabinet members to take, office. His appointment fills the two-month vacancy in the Pentagon's top slot, a period marked with uncertainty and often bitter Senate debate over former Texas Sen. John Tower's nomination. Before Secretary Cheney took his o)(o)lo oath from U.S. Circuit Judge . by Mark Walsh AFNS Pentagon bureau chief WASHINGTON (AFNS)-Runn- ing the world's largest defense organization with austere budget constraints while revamping its military procurement system are just two issues Richard Cheney will face as secretary of defense. Secretary Cheney officially took the reigns of the Pentagon March 21 in a ceremony hosted by President Bush before a crowd of about 7,500 military and civilian employees. The nation's 17th defense chief, . Lawrence H. Silverman in Washington, President Bush outlined some of the "crucial" responsibilities the secre-tary will be taking on. These include defense strategy and management, procurement reform, the daily operation of the armed forces as well as "the long-rang- e planning that will keep us free and secure into the next century," the president said. "The challenges that you'll face, Mr. Secretary, are truly enormous.... And Dick, you'll have help from the best armed forces in the world, and a civilian staff equally dedicated to our national defense," Mr. Bush said. O See Cheney, Page pumped daily. Colonel Brown said the source of the iron and manganese in the ground water and with that the smell, coloration and taste is thought to come from the rocks and minerals through which the ground water travels before it is pumped out of the ground. However, there is relief in sight. According to 2nd Lt. Byron L. Dixon, operations executive officer at the 2849th Civil Engineering Squadron, the smell, taste and discoloration of the drinking water occurs only during the winter months. He said the problems with the water should end during the summer months. "The reason is that during the high water use summer months, we get some of our water piped in from the Weber Basin Reservoir. That's all rain water. ... "And that helps dilute the mineral content of our well water," he said. As a result, the discoloration, smell and bad taste are eliminated." Lieutenant; Dixon said civil engineers are working hard to find a solution to the water problem during, the winter months. "Fire hydrants in the lower areas of the base are being flushed; that's where most of the ; - nmnoynl ccirlimont-a- r inn rrV11orc rhi'rintr the winter months," he said. are also in the all of base reservoirs, process cleaning in compliance with Utah public drinking water regulations. According to the lieutenant, a private consultant will be also be hired soon to study the existing winter problem and recommend possible solutions to prevent recurrence of the problem. However, the situation on base doesn't mean Hill's winter water quality is not good. "The bottom line: our ground water is perfectly good to drink any time of the year," Colonel Brown said. Civil engineers AF secireflairy bows oui - ActWASHINGTON (AFNS) ing Air Force Secretary James McGovern announced plans March 24 to step down from that post in May. In a meeting with Secretary of Defense Richard Cheney, Mr. McGovern said he intends to return to the private sector in order to devote , more attention to his two daughters and pursue several other professional interests. "Without making any commitments, Secretary Cheney asked that we both keep our options open," Mr. McGovern said. "However, March 24 I indicated to Secretary Cheney my preference for leaving public service, but that I look forward to serving him in the . future should the need arise. "It has been a great privilege and honor to have served with the thousands of dedicated, professional men and women of the United States Air Force," he said. Mr. McGovern was under secretary of the Air Force from Novem- ber 1986 until December 1988 when he assumed his current post following Secretary of the Air Force Edward Aldridge's resignation. He is a graduate of the Naval Academy and Georgetown University Law School and has served as a Navy fighter pilot, corporate lawyer and Senate Armed Services Committee staff director. - ?Mr. McGovern's successor has not yet been named. 2, please. C Hill in Combat Strength Through logUtlw the past Significant dates for the base 1 388th Dattleweck Members sharpen combat skills 7 Hill's best Workers lauded for efforts |