Photo By Capt. Stephen Short | Spc. Laura Garretto, project manager for the water treatment plant renovation, of B...... read more read more
TUNIS, Iraq - Water is a building block of life. Unfortunately, clean water is not a luxury afforded in some areas of Iraq. But thanks to some concerned Iraqi citizens and the help of U.S. Soldiers, clean water is a reality for the people of Tunis
Tunis Tech Water Treatment Facility received its final inspection from the Soldiers of B Company, 403rd Civil Affairs Battalion, 172nd Infantry Brigade here recently, before making final payment to the contractor renovating the facility.
Iraq built the water treatment facility 11 years ago, but with time and neglect, it fell well below standard.
"When we arrived here all of the pipes, valves and pumps needed to be replaced," said Spc. Laura Garretto, project manager for the water treatment plant renovation. "It was not working to standard for the Iraqi people."
The water goes through a series of filters then pumps to the local community.
"We need more water treatment facilities, because there are some communities where people are still drinking directly from the river," said Nassir Mugheer Nassir, son of Sheik Mugheer, who visits often to ensure quality work and progress.
A water intake pump removes water straight from the nearby canal. The canal is a tributary of the Euphrates River and susceptible to drought.
"There is a municipality office to request receipt of water from the village, and the goal is to connect the people to their government," said Capt. William Arendt, team chief for Civil Affairs Team 3-4.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers employees established the scope of work to be done at the treatment plant, and the civil affairs teams have been using their training and experience to ensure that all of the work at the plant is done to standard and continue to work with the local government to ensure the facility remains running for the Tunis community.
"One employee runs the entire treatment plant operation and lives directly on the property with his family," added Garretto, a Watervliet, N.Y. native. "A training program is in review to ensure that maintenance continues at the plant, so that clean water is continuously available to the community."
| Date Taken: | 03.06.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 03.06.2009 10:19 |
| Story ID: | 30810 |
| Location: | TUNIS, IQ |
| Web Views: | 287 |
| Downloads: | 268 |
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