Photo By Lt. Col. Janet Herrick | Lt. Col. Samuel Whitehurst, deputy commanding officer of 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th...... read more read more
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By Capt. Janet Herrick
5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
KIRKUK, Iraq - As the desert sun dries up the sparsely vegetated, dirt fields in northern Kirkuk, the residents of Shoraw village welcome a new source of revitalizing water. Coalition forces, Kirkuk Provincial Council members, and Shoraw village leaders celebrated the ribbon cutting of a new water project opening May 24 in Shoraw village.
The Shoraw water project provides clean water to approximately 15,000 people of Shoraw and neighboring villages. Not only does it promote the local government's efforts toward improving the community quality of life, it symbolizes the strength and perseverance of the people in Kirkuk.
"The opening of the water project is the central nerve for everything in Shoraw, meaning that life comes back for this area," said Sheik Habib of Shoraw. "This is the largest project done in this area. Water comes from both sides (Shoraw village and Kirkuk). They are sharing the resources."
The more than $800,000 water project included drilling six wells, a water collection tank, chlorination station, high lift pumps, and an operator's building inside the compound. It also provides a distribution network to a ground storage tank on the nearby ridge of Shoraw, nearly 70 miles north of Kirkuk Air Base.
"The Shoraw water project demonstrates the potential of all people in Kirkuk," said Lt. Col. Samuel Whitehurst, deputy commanding officer of 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division. "Terrible things happened to them under the old regime. Now, they work together to rebuild schools, a hospital, and homes.
"Courage and commitment do not only describe soldiers and policeman. You see the same courage and commitment in the efforts of the Shoraw village and their ability to overcome defeat," said Whitehurst.
The Provincial Council, Kirkuk government and Shoraw village leaders are also committed in working together to improve the quality of life for the people.
"What separates Kirkuk is the strength and diversity in this province. Kirkuk is a great example to the rest of Iraq showing how Arabs, Turkomen, and Kurds work together for the good of Kikruk. What is unique is that all ethnic groups live together in one neighborhood peacefully," said Whitehurst.
After everyone leaves the finished project, the hard part is to maintain the water system. Shoraw village leaders have a plan that includes four shifts of workers to run the pumps 24 hours a day. They have a backup generator, but are also trying to tap into a main power grid. It is the responsibility of the director general of water to maintain the water project with the help of the local people.
The village was destroyed during Saddam Hussein's regime. Now the village has 3,000 homes, three schools, clean water, a hospital being built, and an electricity project in the works.
There are many improvements being worked by provincial government and local leaders. An electricity distribution network in the works and plans are being made to pave the main street in the village, build a new school, and construct a park. The final construction for a hospital is underway for Shoraw village.
"We believe today, with the help from American forces, that the stability in our province and peace in our city will be restored," said Director General of Water Abdul Qadir.
| Date Taken: | 06.04.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 06.04.2007 08:29 |
| Story ID: | 10638 |
| Location: | KIRKUK, IQ |
| Web Views: | 570 |
| Downloads: | 506 |
This work, Shoraw village committed to higher quality of life, by LTC Janet Herrick, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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