[Decision Concerning Army Officer's Appeal of Claims Group's Denial of Claim for Reimbursement for Purchase of Bottled Water]

An Army officer claimed reimbursement for personal funds he spent to purchase bottled water for his detachment, contending that he reasonably exceeded the authorized purchase amount, since the: (1) detachment was stationed in a remote area which relied on untimely military airlifts to deliver supplies; and (2) last military shipment of bottled water was contaminated. GAO held that the claimant was entitled to reimbursement, since the: (1) airlift's delivery of contaminated water necessitated the purchase; and (2) claimant's failure to immediately procure safe water would have severely disrupted the detachment's activities. Accordingly, the claim was allowed.