diff --git a/app/api/services/base_service.py b/app/api/services/base_service.py
index b2d0b01..b305f4b 100644
--- a/app/api/services/base_service.py
+++ b/app/api/services/base_service.py
@@ -396,7 +396,7 @@ class BaseService:
     def write_cache_data(cacheSection, cacheId, cacheData):
 
         try:
-            cacheKey = "MERMS:"+ cacheSection + ':' + cacheId
+            cacheKey = "MERMS-"+ cacheSection + '-' + cacheId  # note theh use of  -
             logger.info(f"write_cache_data () key {cacheKey}", exc_info=True)
             # Define connection parameters and connect
             r = redis.Redis(host=BaseService.CACHE_SERVER, port=BaseService.CACHE_PORT,