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CHAPTER 3

WATER SUPPLY PLANNING

WATER REQUIREMENTS

Planning for water support begins with determining the amount of water required. This will depend upon the battlefield environment, the expected time of hostilities, and the size of the force. Water requirements are flexible. Some may be denied indefinitely and some for several weeks. Some are always essential.

WATER CONSUMPTION REQUIREMENTS

A number of water consumption requirements are directly related to the number of people in the force structure. These are described below.

Drinking water must be potable. The amount needed depends on the climate, intensity of work, and type of battlefield. Since the water reserve of the body is small, soldiers must replace water as it is lost.

Water needed for heat treatment includes ice or cold water to reduce the body temperature quickly of a heatstroke patient. It should be potable. However, in an emergency, use any available water. Heatstroke affects about one of every 1,000 soldiers in arid and tropical zones. The water needed for heat treatment is small in temperate and arctic zones. Wearing MOPP for long periods will increase heat treatment requirements.

These requirements include water for shaving, brushing teeth, and washing. This water first be potable. Daily shaving is needed since the protective mask does not fit properly over a beard. Since showers are scheduled only once a week, daily sponge baths are necessary. Teeth usually are brushed after each meal.

These requirements include water used in showers. Potability is not mandatory, but treated water may be required by local medical personnel. The Surgeon General recommends showering at least weekly regardless of location, season, or level of combat activity.

Use potable water to prepare food, sanitize kitchen utensils, and clean individual mess equipment. To reduce water requirements, use disposable eating utensils with B-Rations or use MREs frequently.

Laundering is done at the rear of the division. Climatic conditions and troop health set the requirement. Under normal conditions laundering may be done weekly. Base laundry water requirements on one change of clothing per man per week. Potable water is not required. Develop hospital laundry requirements separately.

Division medical personnel use water for wash down of ambulance interiors and litters, patient cleanup, and instrument and medical personnel washing. Use only potable water for medical use.

Some water consumption requirements are not directly related to numbers of people. The work load or the number of equipment items sets the requirements described below.

These requirements include water uses common to medical facilities in EAD. Not included are staff requirements common to all personnel in the theater. Only potable water is recommended due to the increased susceptibility of patients to infections. Water use by medical facilities depends on the number of each type of facility in the theater of operations and the number of casualties treated. Hospital requirements include water used in the laundering of linens, gowns, towels, and other medically related articles.

These requirements include water for decontaminating personnel and equipment. The water needed depends on the frequency, intensity, and location of enemy attacks. Currently recommended are 12.4 gallons for biological or radiological decontamination of an individual, 100 gallons for hasty equipment decontamination, and 450 gallons for deliberate decontamination of a major end item. Water for NBC decontamination does not have to be potable. Showering is not normally required for chemical decontamination. However, water to decontaminate personnel must meet the standards that local medical personnel set for shower water.

These requirements include water to replace vehicle coolant. For the best estimate, find out the number of vehicles and the radiator capacity of each. If only the number of vehicles with radiators is known, use a factor of 0.5 gallons per vehicle per day in temperate, tropical, and arctic zones. Use a factor of 1 gallon per vehicle per day in an arid zone. If the number of vehicles is unknown, use 0.2 gallons per man per day as an estimate in all zones. This water does not need to be potable.

These requirements include water to prepare remains for processing and shipment and to clean up vehicles and GRREG personnel. The water required ranges from 6 gallons per KIA for temporary burial in the division area to 50 gallons per KIA for full mortuary services. This water does not need to be potable.

These requirements include water for road and airfield construction, quarry operations, asphalt plant operations, well drilling, pipeline testing, and concrete construction. Such water does not need to be potable. However, water with high salt content may cause long-term corrosion and reduce the strength of concrete. Water requirements for engineer construction cannot be computed on a per man per day basis due to construction variables in various theaters. Since nonpotable water consumption must be estimated in an arid zone, use 0.5 gallons per man per day as a factor at the division level. Use 1.5 gallons per man per clay at the corps level and above.

These requirements include water for washing turbines and for flight operations. Potable water is not required, but salt content must be extremely low. Because the numbers and types of aircraft in units vary, these requirements do not lend themselves to a per man per day planning factor. For a realistic estimate, find out the total number of aircraft engines and the number of aircraft with and without APUs. In nonarid environments, aircraft washing requires 5 gallons per engine per day. Arid environments require 10 gallons per engine and an additional 5 gallons for aircraft with on-board APU. However, since nonpotable water consumption must be estimated in an arid zone, use 0.2 gallons per man per day where aircraft density is unknown. This estimate is based on total Army aircraft densities.

Water consumption also depends on the zone of operation. In temperate, arctic, and tropical zones, water sources are normally abundant. These include lakes, ponds, streams, rivers, and wells. Convenient water sources are easy to locate and develop. Since nonpotable water is abundant in these zones, consumption estimates only deal with potable water requirements. In arid zones, water sources are so sparse that water must be purified at coastal areas and sent to the point of use. To preclude two separate water systems in arid regions, requirements for both potable and nonpotable water will be met with potable water. Total potable water requirements will thus increase. In all zones, 10 percent is lost through waste or evaporation. Increase water requirements by 10 percent to offset this loss.

When enough potable water cannot be produced to meet all requirements, all but essential consumption is curtailed. Essential water requirements include those for drinking, personal hygiene, field feeding, medical treatment, heat casualty treatment, and, in arid zones, vehicle and aircraft maintenance. Consumption rates under these conditions are classified as "minimum" enough for a force to survive up to one week. Requirements for periods exceeding one week are classified as "sustaining." In this category, nonessential consumption includes that for centralized hygiene, laundry, and construction.

ENVIRONMENT PLANNING FACTORS

General consumption planning factors exist for various environments and for various locations on the battlefield. These factors are based upon a ration policy of two T-rations and one MRE per day. The actual factor to use depends on the ration policy established by the commander. Water requirements for MREs are 0.25 gallons per meal. B-rations require 1.25 gallons per meal per soldier for dehydration and kitchen sanitation. While T-rations require no water for food dehydration, 0.5 gallons are required to heat each T-ration. If individual mess equipment is used, 1 gallon per soldier is required to sterilize utensils and clean up. More information on specific requirements for each of the climate zones is given below.

In temperate regions water sources are normally abundant. They include ponds, streams, rivers, wells, and local water systems. Sources convenient for water support operations should be easy to locate and develop. Drinking water does not need to be cooled. Sources discovered by combat forces maybe exploited by use of individual or small unit purification procedures or devices. In temperate regions, use potable water only when required. In the battalion and company areas, potable water is needed for drinking, personal hygiene, and field feeding. In the brigade support and division rear areas, add the water requirement for division-level medical treatment to those in forward areas. In EAD (corps and EAC), potable water needs increase due to the need for water for hospital medical treatment. Hospital water requirements depend on the number of each type of hospital in the supported area. Where exact numbers and types of hospitals are unknown, use 0.7 gallons per man per day to estimate hospital water requirements. Table 3-1 provides specific temperate zone consumption factors.

In tropical regions, water sources are expected to be abundant. Rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, wells, and local water systems are possible water sources. Dense vegetation and lack of roads may pose significant and unusual problems in exploiting these sources. Individual consumption for drinking will increase due to high temperatures and humidity. Water sources discovered by combat forces may be exploited by use of individual or small unit purification procedures or devices. Poor ground LOC may inhibit water distribution by truck and place greater reliance on aerial resupply of water to engaged forces. Cool drinking water to encourage soldiers to drink the large quantities of water needed to prevent heat injuries. Waterborne diseases, infections, and parasites capable of transmission through body contact are very high in tropical zones. This requires the disinfection and filtration of water prior to its use for bathing and laundering. Use potable water in the tropical zone only when required. In the battalion and company areas, potable water is required for drinking, personal hygiene, field feeding, and heat casualty treatment. In the brigade support and division rear areas, add the water requirement for medical treatment to those in forward areas. In EAD (corps and EAC) potable water needs increase due to water requirements for hospital medical treatment. Where exact numbers and types of hospitals are unknown, use 0.9 gallons per man per day to estimate hospital water requirements. Table 3-2 provides specific tropical zone consumption factors.

In arctic regions, melting of snow and ice will provide only enough water for emergency use by individuals and small units. It is impractical for supply of larger units due to the extensive fuel requirements. Dominant water sources are unfrozen water underlying frozen rivers and lakes and civilian- and military-constructed wells. Location and exploitation of water sources convenient for water support operations will pose unusual support problems. The dispersion of suitable water sources will increase distribution requirements. Water purification, storage, and distribution elements must be augmented with equipment to prevent or retard freezing. Encourage soldiers to drink large quantities of water to prevent dehydration. Use potable water in arctic zones only when required. In the battalion and company areas, potable water is needed for drinking, personal hygiene, and field feeding. In the brigade support and division rear areas, add the water requirement for medical treatment to those in forward areas. In EAD (corps and EAC) potable water needs increase due to the need for hospital medical treatment. Where exact numbers and types of hospitals are unknown, use 0.7 gallons per man per day to estimate hospital water requirements. Table 3-3 provides specific arctic zone consumption factors.

In arid regions, available water sources are limited and widely dispersed. Water must therefore be transported to the point of use. Surface fresh water is almost nonexistent, and available subsurface water varies from region to region. Detailed planning for water supply in an arid region is essential. Individual water consumption must be much greater than in a temperate region to prevent heat casualties. Cool drinking water to encourage soldiers to drink the large quantities of water required. Cooling is most efficiently done close to the point of actual consumption. Commanders and supervisors will ensure that drinking water is available and that soldiers drink sufficient quantities to maintain effectiveness. Use potable water to meet nonpotable water requirements when untreated water is not available. Provision of a separate nonpotable water distribution system will not be feasible. The lack of water sources will mean a large storage and distribution requirement. General support units provide this capability. Major tactical operations may be aimed at controlling scarce water sources. Total potable water requirements increase since potable water is used to meet nonpotable water requirements. Nonpotable water requirements include centralized hygiene, laundry, vehicle maintenance, construction, and aircraft maintenance. In the battalion and company areas, potable water is needed for drinking, personal hygiene, field feeding, heat casualty treatment, and vehicle maintenance. In the brigade support and division rear areas, add the water requirement for medical treatment, centralized hygiene, construction, and aircraft maintenance to those in forward areas. In EAD (corps and EAC), water requirements increase due to water requirements for laundering and hospital medical treatment. Where exact numbers and types of hospitals are unknown, use 2.8 gallons per man per day to estimate hospital water requirements. Table 3-4 provides specific arid zone consumption factors.

WATER REQUIREMENTS COMPUTATIONS

A number of computations must be made to determine supply, purification, and storage requirements for water. Personnel strength data are used by the MMC managers to compute water requirements. The MTOE and TDA provide authorized strengths for planning before hostilities begin. Data from the SIDPERS and subsisted strength reports may be used to modify requirements after units are established in the theater.

Supply Requirement

To compute the total daily water requirement of the force, multiply the strength (authorized, actual, or subsisted) by the proper consumption factor. The total, expressed as gallons per day, includes 10 percent for waste due to spills and evaporation.

Purification Requirement

The size and composition of the water supply section, detachment or team needed to provide for the total daily requirement must often be computed. To do this, divide the total daily requirement by the daily production capability of one purification unit. The daily production capability depends on several factors. These include the GPH rating of the unit (600 GPH, 1500 GPH, 3000 GPH), type and temperature of the water source (fresh, brackish, or saline), and the daily hours of operation. This information is in Section I of the appropriate TOE for each section, detachment, or team. Under normal conditions, water purification equipment is operated 20 hours per day with four hours downtime for operator and crew maintenance. Temperature affects the production capability of purification equipment. At a raw water temperature of 50 of ROWPU production capability is reduced by 50 percent.

Temperate, tropical, and arctic regions usually do not require large amounts of potable water to be stored. Their nonpotable water requirements can be met by raw water sources, and their potable water requirements can be met by the water purification section's organic storage tanks. In arid regions, large quantities of potable water must be stored because such water is used for both potable and nonpotable requirements. Brigades and divisions deployed in arid regions will have additional storage teams assigned. Raw water storage may be needed to provide source water for purification equipment. To compute the total storage requirement, determine the location and daily requirement on the battlefield (brigade, division, corps, or EAC). Double the daily requirement at corps and EAC to provide an additional day of supply at these levels. Then, compute the number of water supply companies needed to store the total requirement by dividing it by 1.6 million (the storage capacity, in gallons, of one water supply company). Allocate the companies in the corps and COMMZ to store that portion of the total requirement found in each area.