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Navy Engineers Search for Water in the Horn of Africa

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS080130-03
Release Date: 1/30/2008 1:49:00 PM

By Darrell Waller, Naval Facilities Engineering Service Center Public Affairs

PORT HUENEME, Calif. (NNS) -- Naval Facilities Engineering Service Center (NAVFAC ESC) personnel are lending their technical expertise to the Joint Forces Command and the U.S. Hydrogeologic Team as they identify and develop new water sources for drought-stricken residents in the Horn of Africa.

The Water Resource Project is a $2.8 million dollar humanitarian effort supervised by the Combined Joint Task Force/Horn of Africa. The project supplies aid to Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, and other African nations hard hit by famine, natural disasters and a lack of dependable water sources.

"This project is a significant boost to the local population and to our warfighters, who are actively involved in conducting numerous civic projects in the area, including installing wells, building new hospitals and schools and providing first-rate medical services in remote villages," said Naval Facilities Engineering Service Center Commanding Officer, Capt. Gregory J. Zielinski. "Our assistance will go a long way toward creating goodwill and strengthening bonds with the host nation government and indigenous people in the region, while denying a foothold for terrorists spreading extremist propaganda."

The ESC team, working with the Djibouti Ministry of Agriculture & Irrigation, Ethiopian Ministry of Water Resources and Kenyan Ministry of Water geologists, is using the latest geologic mapping technology to identify prospective well sites most likely to produce water.

The Hydrogeologic Survey Team has assessed more than 100 potential water-bearing sites and is making recommendations regarding water wells and primary distribution improvements for communities affected by the drought.

NAVFAC ESC and the U.S. Geological Survey are the primary contractors, partnering with the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Ministry of Water and academia. The team is comprised of twelve engineers and other personnel working out of Camp Lemonier, Djibouti.

For more news from Naval Facilities Engineering Command, visit www.news.navy.mil/local/navfachq/.