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With Seabee Help, Water Flows

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS070725-21
Release Date: 7/25/2007 2:25:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Steven King, USNS Comfort Public Affairs

CHINANDEGA, Nicaragua (NNS) -- Sailors from Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit (CBMU) 202 attached to the U.S. Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) began repair and restoration of the water system at the 15 de Julio Health Care Center in Chinandega on July 20.

The project, with an expected completion date of July 24, includes painting and electrical and general repairs.

For three years, the 15 de Julio Health Care Center, a facility that cares for 150 patients a day, has been without running potable water. All water used by the center comes from three 55-gallon drums, filled from a neighborhood water tank located down the road, then transported back by an aging pick-up truck.

“The water is vital for everything, most importantly sterilization and hygiene,” said Eddy Artola Vasquez, director of the center. “It has to be rationed for the most serious patients that come to the clinic.”

"The major city that supplies this village with water is 16 miles away. Ruptures and a lack of pressure have plagued the piping system. The people in charge have limited funds to provide an adequate water system with enough pressure to reach the center," said Vasquez.

The Sailors, known as Seabees, replaced a broken pump and created a piping system to take water from a newly-dug well to an elevated tank. The tank will provide running water with enough water pressure to accommodate the facility’s needs.

“This job is important. It will better the lives and the living situation of these people that are trying to provide medical help to the people of Nicaragua,” said Utilitiesman 2nd Class Jason Burton, with CBMU 202.

“By us completing our mission, the clinic staff can better complete their mission,” continued Burton.

Comfort is on a four-month humanitarian deployment to Latin America and the Caribbean providing medical treatment to patients in a dozen countries. While deployed, Comfort is under operational control of U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command and tactical control of Destroyer Squadron 24.