• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Section I

PURPOSE AND FUNCTIONS

MISSION

The mission of the water team on the water purification barge is to produce bulk quantities of potable water from any water source. The potable water is pumped through a hose line from the barge to shore. The water is then transported by a TWDS to a base terminal storage tank at the water supply company or a similar unit.

PERSONNEL

The barge water team operates in two 12-hour shifts. Each shift consists of 10 hours of operations and 2 hours of maintenance. Each shift has a leader who reports to the water treatment super visor. See Figure 5-1. Table 5-1 lists TOE-pre scribed personnel of the barge water team by position, grade, MOS, and duties.

CAPABILITIES

The water team (TOE 10570LA) operates at full strength at all times. When operating on a 24-hour basis, this team --

• Produces 225,000 gallons of potable water per day.
• Stores 15,000 gallons of potable water on board.
• Performs maintenance on all barge equipment, except CE equipment.
• Assists in coordinated defense of the LOTS area or port facility.

ASSIGNMENT

The team may be assigned to a water battalion or a petroleum group. It is usually attached to headquarters and headquarters detachment, water supply battalion (TOE 10116). It may also be attached to a corps support command or other service, as required.

REQUIRED SUPPORT

The water team on the water purification barge requires support from other sources. The barge is not self-propelled. It is not equipped for any missions other than production and limited distribution of water. The team depends on the support described below.

Movement

Appropriate elements of the Military Sealift Command transport the barge to the theater of operations. The barge, when fully equipped, weighs 550 tons.

Positioning and Anchoring

Tugboats move the barge within the terminal operational area as required. They also assist with anchoring. Tugboats will probably be from transportation corps floating craft companies. Tugs will be assigned by the terminal battalion in charge of terminal operations.

Barge Maintenance

When available, the transportation floating craft maintenance company ((TOE 55613) can assist with maintenance for the barge. The company can repair items such as winches, hoists, and bilge pumps.

Water Purification System Maintenance

Intermediate DS and GS maintenance companies (area support group) can provide assistance with maintenance of water purification systems. These include the ROWPU, the power-generation equipment, and the pumps.

Logistics

Logistics support must be arranged through the unit to which the team is assigned or attached. The water supply company (TOE 10468L) or other services will provide command and control, food service, and unit supply.

COMMUNICATIONS

A combat communications system provides rapid, reliable, and secure interchange of vital information within and between echelons. The goal is to maintain communications under all conditions.

Net

Barge personnel communicate with personnel at the supporting unit on shore, at the terminal operations center, on tugboats, and on other vessels. Barge personnel also communicate with one another when necessary. A proposed radio net is shown in Figure 5-2.

The TOE or MTOE prescribes communications assets. The barge is equipped with an AN/VRC-47 radio set. All components, except the antenna, are located in the dayroom within the deckhouse. TMs 11-5820-401-10-2, -20-2, and -20P cover operation and maintenance of this set. The radio is used to communicate with the harbormaster, with elements in the higher headquarters net, with Army watercraft, and with other units. A general announcing system, equipped with a fog bell and intercom system, is also located in the dayroom. It is used to page, to make announcements, and to communicate with personnel in the various areas of the barge. The barge is also equipped with two stationary marine band radios for communication with other watercraft in the area. One of these is located on the crew boat. Four portable, marine band, PRC-94 radios are used mainly during towing, anchoring, mooring, and hose line deploying operations.

Section II

WATER PRODUCTION OPERATIONS

MOVING THE BARGE

The barge can be moved over navigable inland waterways or along the coast. This ensures that potable water is readily available to the soldiers.

Location

The barge usually is stored in a rear area until it is needed in a forward area. Then, all systems are taken out of the storage configuration and checked for operational readiness. Deficiencies are corrected before the barge is moved. (There are different start-up procedures for bringing the barge out of long-term storage.) Since the barge lacks a propulsion system, movement to the theater of operations will normally be handled by the Military Sealift Command. Your location in the theater almost always will be near a water supply unit.

Relocation

You may need to relocate when your unit mission has been completed. The barge may also be relocated to evade enemy forces; to escape storms; or to avoid nuclear, biological, or chemical contamination. It takes time to move the barge, and you must rely on other sources to assist in the move. A commercial or military tugboat must be readily available to move the barge when required. See Figure 5-3. For a long move, the barge will usually be towed. For short moves, the barge will normally be attached to the side of the tug. Remember, if a tug is moving the barge, the tug master is in command. Any movement must be coordinated with the harbormaster, terminal commander, or port commander. You must also coordinate with the commander of the water supply company operating the supporting water distribution and storage system. Regardless of where you are located in the theater, you should be prepared to move quickly. Include movement procedures in your SOP.

SELECTING THE SITE

The barge may operate within a protected harbor, possibly at dockside, or it may operate from the coastline. A harbor location is best because it offers protection from storms, allows faster deployment, and ensures more stable water production. You may assist the terminal commander in designating a location. Several factors should be taken into consideration when selecting the site for the barge. Location of support services and sea and beach conditions are important factors.

Support Services Availability

If possible, the barge should be anchored in a port or tied to a dock in a LOTS area. See Figure 5-4. This location provides some protection from enemy attack. It ensures that powered watercraft are available to move the barge when necessary and to bring fuel and supplies when needed. The barge will almost always be collocated with a water supply unit. It should be located near the unit that will provide personnel support services. The unit to which you are assigned or attached will provide food service, billeting, and other support functions. The crew boat will be used to transport personnel to shore or to another vessel for these services.

ANCHORING THE BARGE

The barge may be anchored with one, two, or four anchors. As a rule, four anchors are used. See Figure 5-5. The crew boat or other watercraft can assist in setting the anchors. A tugboat will assist in positioning the barge while the anchors are set. The barge must be positioned with the stern closest to shore. If sea conditions should cause the barge to turn, it must be anchored again. Anchoring the barge can be a difficult process. It may take as long as 24 hours to complete. Less time will be required for anchoring the barge if it is located in a harbor.

DEPLOYING THE HOSE LINE

Before anchors 3 and 4 are set, an LCM-8 or similar watercraft should take the 5.9-ton winch to the shore.

After the barge is anchored, the drinking water discharge system is set up so that water can be pumped ashore. A heavy-duty rope is attached to the end of the hose line. Crew members attach the free end of the rope to the shore winch. After the winch is stabilized, it pulls the rope and unwinds the hose from the reel on the barge. The hose line settles on the sea floor. Deployment of the hose line takes three to five hours, if there are no problems. However, the process can take as long as 48 hours to complete. If the barge is located in a harbor, fewer problems can be expected.

Section III

WATER TREATMENT AND DELIVERY

CRITICAL SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT

Mission-essential equipment is located in every area of the barge. After the barge is positioned, or during the anchoring process, the major systems and equipment must be checked and started up. The chlorination system is usually started up while anchoring is underway. After the barge is anchored, the beach winch is set up on shore and the discharge hose line is deployed. Finally, the ROWPU systems are started up.

ROWPU System

There are two reverse osmosis water purification units aboard the barge. They convert seawater to drinking water. See Figure 5-6. The ROWPU system filters and desalts the water by pumping it through filters and reverse osmosis pressure tubes. This process removes impurities before the water is chlorinated and held in storage tanks. Figure 5-7 illustrates the purification process.

The shore discharge system conveys treated water to holding or storage facilities on shore. The system consists mainly of a 2,500-foot hose line, a hydraulic-driven winch, and ashore winch. To set up this system, the shore winch must be taken to shore on an LCM-8 or other suitable utility boat. The terminal commander or the commander of the supporting unit will assist in securing watercraft for this purpose. The winch must be located at least 10 feet above the mean high-water level. After the shore winch has been positioned and anchored on shore, it will pull the hose line from the reel located at the stern of the barge. See Figure 5-8. The speed of the shore winch must be coordinated with that of the hydraulic winch that turns the hose reel. When the end of the hose has been connected to the shore distribution facility, the system is ready for use.

AUXILIARY SYSTEMS

Some auxiliary systems are essential to barge operations. These systems provide electrical power, fuel oil, lights, and other services and equipment.

Electrical Power

The electrical power system distributes power from one of two 155-kilowatt, diesel generator sets to barge equipment. The system can also distribute power obtained from shore sources. An emergency system, powered by a battery bank or the 20-kilowatt generator, is used when the main power system fails. An emergency power shutdown panel allows personnel to stop major equipment at any time.

Fuel Oil

The fuel oil system provides fuel for the diesel generators and high-pressure pump engines. The system can store 7,200 gallons in on-board storage tanks and 350 gallons in the day tank. The day tank holds enough fuel to operate the barge for eight hours. As fuel is used from the day tank, more fuel must be transferred to the day tank from the storage tanks. The system will provide enough fuel to operate for seven days if the generators are operating 24 hours a day. The fuel supply is sufficient for 21 days if the barge is operating only eight hours a day. Remember to report all fuel oil spills to the US Coast Guard.

Compressed Air

The compressed air system provides air for several equipment systems on the barge. To prevent accidents, be sure the gages always indicate the proper pressure.

Towing, Mooring, and Anchoring Equipment

The barge is equipped with a towing system that is used when the barge is moved to and from the deployment site. A four-point anchoring system will secure the barge offshore in fairly rough seas (up to sea state 3). The mooring system provides a means for securing the barge to a pier to other vessels.

Lighting

The barge has inside and outside lighting systems. Inside lighting is provided in the deckhouse and in the voids. Outside, or navigational, lighting is provided for the deck area.

Other Systems

Communications equipment is located in the dayroom. Additional barge equipment provides ventilation, heating, and air conditioning to the dayroom and workshop. The ventilation system provides fresh air to the deckhouse as well as for the voids and ROWPU space if the barge is operating. The barge is equipped with a crew boat which is used mainly for transporting the crew to and from the shore. Lifesaving and fire fighting equipment and cranes are stored aboard the barge. An equipment monitoring system checks the operations of the water purification units. It sounds an alarm when something is wrong. The deckhouse encloses the dayroom and workshop and the ROWPU space. The dayroom is equipped with radios, a file cabinet, and equipment designed for the comfort of the crew. See Figure 5-9. The dayroom has tables, chairs, berths, a hot plate, a coffee maker, a refrigerator, a sink, and a water fountain. The workshop has a workbench, an arbor press, a jaw vise, a drill, a grinder, and a storage area. An electrically driven hoist system on the ceiling of the deckhouse moves engines, generators, pumps, and bulk supplies within the barge and to and from the side of the barge.

MAINTENANCE OPERATIONS

Maintenance is vital to continued operation of the ROWPU system. For each 10 hours of operation, two hours are needed for maintenance checks and services. Maintenance tasks are performed by the crew to the extent possible. The crew uses the workshop located next to the dayroom for maintenance tasks. Barge equipment can be lifted out and replaced using an electric hoist system located on the ceiling of the deckhouse. Most of the large equipment has been designed in modular units which can be replaced quickly and easily. Enough supplies and spare parts for one year of operations are stocked on the barge. Maintenance procedures for each piece of equipment are detailed in the commercial manuals. Maintenance forms and records are explained in DA Pamphlet 738-750. Be sure to follow instructions carefully when completing maintenance forms and records.

CLOSEDOWN PROCEDURES

When operational orders indicate that the barge is to be moved, water operations must come to a halt. The ROWPU and related elements must be stopped, and the system must be flushed out. A PIG (Figure 5-10) is sent through the hose line from the barge to the shore and back. This clears the hose of water. Compressed air is used to propel the PIG. See Figure 5-11. After the hose is cleared, it is capped. The winch is used to rewind the hose on the reel. Anchor retrieval is usually the last step in preparing for movement. The anchor winches are used to retrieve the four anchors. If the barge will not be used again for a long time, follow the special procedures for long-term storage.