Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Meadows | Husam Abbas, a mechanical engineer and bilingual, bicultural advisor from Ontario,...... read more read more
Subscribe
By Staff Sgt. Matt Meadows
4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division
FORWARD OPERATING BASE LOYALTY, Iraq – The partnership between Iraqi and U.S. officials paid dividends for Iraqi citizens in Baghdad Al Jadida neighborhoods when a water distribution site officially opened at Joint Security Station BAJ, Aug. 9, 2008.
The site at JSS BAJ is part of a combined Iraqi and U.S. project dubbed Patriot H2O that began in late April. The project established three water-distribution sites and coordinated transportation to disburse water to 9 Nissan residents using Baghdad Water Authority trucks. Also, all three sites allow citizens to fill containers with water on the premises. The other two sites are at JSS Shawra Wa Um Jidir and JSS Al Khansa, which opened, June 30, 2008 and Aug. 3, 2008, respectively.
"From the beginning, this has been a joint Iraqi government-coalition forces project - from the initial development and planning to the execution to this point where we are getting ready to distribute the water to the local people," said Maj. Gary Giles, civil affairs officer, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad. "This project - the tanks and the distribution point - has been funded with Iraqi money. With the coordination of the Baghdad Water Authority, we have been able to develop this site."
Not only is the JSS BAJ water distribution site capable of producing large amounts of purified water - 50,000 liters in eight hours - for an estimated 500,000 area residents, but it is also used to provide water to the city and both electricity and water to a neighboring school, said Husam Abbas, project designer and mechanical engineer.
Local city officials use the site's "gray water," not suitable to drink, for street cleaning and irrigation for trees and vegetation, explained Abbas. In addition, a school adjacent to the site not only receives water but also gets electricity from a 35-amp site generator that has amps to spare, said the bilingual, bicultural advisor from Ontario, Canada who works with 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light), Multi-National Division – Baghdad.
When the JSS BAJ site is fully operational, Baghdad Al Jadida area residents can expect about 10 BWA trucks delivering water in their neighbors daily, said Abbas. Each truck will contain 12,000 to 15,000 liters of purified water.
Another benefit to each phase of the Patriot H20 project in Baghdad Al Jadida was employment. The local contractor who was responsible for constructing the water distribution site, Riyadh Al Janneh Co., employed 600 workers for the project, said Mohanned Al Muftin, the company's managing director. The work encompassed everything from laying asphalt to installing water tanks and used trucks, cranes, bulldozers and many other kinds of equipment. Muftin commented that he is "very happy" with the work his company did on the project and is glad to have a hand in helping people.
"It makes me so happy to see people picking up the water. I want them to know it is clean water for drinking," said Muftin. "I want to say thanks to both sides, coalition and Iraqi sides, who give water to the people, and I am proud to be involved to help give the water to the people around here."
The water distribution site at JSS BAJ uses a Tactical Water Purification System that has an extensive filtration system to convert raw water from the city line into purified, potable drinking water, said Spc. Gabriela Campuzano, a water purification specialist, from Los Angeles assigned to Company A, 94th Brigade Support Battalion. Campuzano said she was the first purification specialist to help set up the site and to work with Muftin, informing them of the requirements.
"I feel that it's a good job," expressed Campuzano, adding that the national police is one of their biggest customers and comes to the site ever other day to get about 1,500 gallons of purified water each time. "It's humanitarian to help out the people over here.
"It's pretty hard," continued Campuzano commenting about being deployed. "Everybody has to make sacrifices, but sacrifices always help other people. And that's always good."
Capt. Roman Izzo, a Houston native, who serves as commander of Company C, 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, currently attached to 4th BCT, 10th Mtn. Division, is responsible for providing security at the JSS BAJ water distribution site. His unit has Soldiers assigned to the JSS who work with the Iraqi police stationed there. In addition, they assist in limiting access to the site, but not the distribution points.
"We don't limit access to those, that would defeat the purpose, but we watch them to make sure nobody is out there causing problems," explained Izzo. "We limit access to the tanks and to the water purification unit."
Izzo said he interacts with the Baghdad Al Jadida Neighborhood Council on a regular basis. While the council doesn't have administrative control of the water distribution site, they do coordinate with local citizens and get them to visit the site, he explained.
Several Iraqi and U.S. military and civilian officials attended the grand opening of the JSS BAJ water distribution site. Distinguished officials in attendance included Nazar Sultan, vice chairman, Baghdad Provincial Council; Hamez Mudhfer, vice director general, Baghdad Water Authority; Brig. Gen. Robin Swan, deputy commanding general, MND-B; Lt. Col. Donn Hill, deputy commander, 4th BCT, 10th Mtn. Div.; and Lt. Col. Scott McKean, commander of 1st CAB, 66th Armor Regt.
Coalition coordination with the BWA and the Baghdad Provincial Council that make projects such as the JSS BAJ water project possible are initiated at higher than company level, said Izzo. However, his relations with local officials are friendly and are built on mutual community concerns.
"When it all comes together, it is really satisfying to see it all work," expressed Izzo. "It took a lot of hard work from a lot of important folks, Army folks [and] government folks, and this is not a small project.
"A lot of people came together. Iraqis and Americans put a lot of work into putting [this project] together," continued Izzo. "It's water for the people. There is a functioning water supply ... and what this does is it makes clean water readily available to people."
| Date Taken: | 08.11.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 08.11.2008 10:32 |
| Story ID: | 22356 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 349 |
| Downloads: | 310 |
This work, Iraqi, U.S. officials combine efforts to bring water to Baghdad Al Jadida area, by SFC Matthew Meadows, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
