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Seabees Build Water Distribution Site in Djibouti

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS100507-16
5/7/2010

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Patrick Gordon, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 7 Public Affairs

NAGHAD, Djibouti (NNS) -- Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 7 were building a water distribution site in the town of Naghad, Djibouti, May 7.

When complete, the Naghad Water Distribution Project will be a 12 by 12 foot square concrete pad with 40 water spigots and two watering troughs for local livestock.

"The purpose of the Naghad Water Distribution Project is to provide a cleaner, more efficient water source to the community," said Builder 1st Class Joseph Waddell, of Harrisonville, Mo., the project supervisor. "Right now, the people of Naghad only have a 26 spigot pad that leaks pretty badly and is creating a cesspool of standing water. When the Seabees are done here, the local community will be able to get more from their water source."

The current water pad is the central water source to the people of Naghad, who run hoses from the spigots to their homes for fresh water. It is connected to a water pump that the Seabees intend to improve as well.

"The pipes that connect the current water pad to the pump house are PVC pipes that have degraded over time," said Waddell. "We plan on using smaller diameter, rigid metal pipes to provide a more reliable water supply with better water pressure."

Fortunately for the Seabees, little preparation of the site was needed. Waddell said the area between the existing water pad and the pump house is quite open, and minimal clearing was necessary prior to laying the frame of the new water pad.

Waddell also expressed his level of pride to be a part of such a meaningful humanitarian project.

"I think I speak for the entire crew when I say doing community development projects like this really feels good," said Waddell. "To be able to help a community get something as important as water more easily really means a lot."

"It's great being able to improve the lives of people, to give them something better than what they already have," said Builder Constructionman Selina Rodriguez, of Harlingen, Texas. "This is my first deployment, and this is exactly the kind of experience I hoped for."

"The smiles on the peoples' faces when we get to the site really make all the hard work worthwhile," said Builder Constructionman Joseph Scott, of Rock Spring, Ga. "Especially when you know their lives are easier because of something you're doing."

The Naghad Water Distribution Project is expected to take three weeks.

NCMB 7 is home ported at the Naval Construction Battalion Center Gulfport, Miss., home of the Atlantic Fleet Seabees, and is currently the east coast's Battle "E" Seabee battalion.