Army helping in Himalayas with reverse osmosis
By Arthur McQueen
October 28, 2005
MUZAFFARABAD, Pakistan (Army News Service, Oct. 28, 2005) – The space an Army unit uses is called its footprint, and in the earthquake-battered Kashmir region of Pakistan, the available ground is well-trampled.
The 1st Armored Division’s 123rd Forward Support Battalion’s Reverse Osmosis Water Purification Unit Team 1 has a small footprint. While that makes the unit popular with those pressed for space, ROWPU Team 1’s product makes it essential.
U.S. Army Europe deployed Task Force 212, centered around the 212th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital, to provide humanitarian assistance to the Pakistani people at the request and in support of the Pakistani government following the Oct. 8 earthquake.
In little more than an hour after connecting to a raw water source, the ROWPU unit can turn out clean water at the rate of 600 gallons per hour.
Operating a surgical hospital in a remote and devastated region requires access to large amounts of clean water. ROWPU Team 1 provides water for the hospital and for task force Soldiers.
“The bulk water from the ROWPU team is critical for hospital operations,” said Maj. Robert Piotrowski, 212th MASH deputy chief of clinical services. “Without clean water, you can’t sterilize instruments, or wash hands, or patients, or anything. And here, there is no clean water available without them.”
The 22-Soldier ROWPU Team 1 started its mission from Dexheim, Germany, and arrived here outfitted with pumps, filters, chemicals, a 30-kilowatt generator, and four 3,000-gallon bladders used to store purified water. With its equipment, the team can keep the task force in fresh water indefinitely.
The ROWPU Soldiers’ first concern was to find the cleanest water source available, said Staff Sgt. Alonza Carswell, team noncommissioned officer in charge.
The source water flows through pumps and filters as part of the purification process. Then, based on the biological contaminants present, the team adds varying levels of four different chemicals to remove particulates, control the water’s ph balance and kill microorganisms.
The team checks the water’s quality throughout the purification process, and periodically as it is stored before use.
“I think we have a pretty good purpose here,” said Spc. Patrick Bates, a water purification specialist from Joliet, Ill.
“Hoo-ah,” said Sgt. Nikia Shavers, a light wheeled vehicle mechanic for the team. “If you are going to leave home, leave it for a good cause.”
For more information on relief efforts, see More troops, supplies arrive in Pakistan
(Editor’s note: Arthur McQueen works for the USAREUR Public Affairs Office.)
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
