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Engineers assess Iraqi utility plants

by Staff Sgt. Craig Pickett

BA'QUBAH, Iraq (Army News Service, May 7, 2003) -- Amidst the whir of numerous water pumps, Col. Robert Nicholson and his team of engineers from Task Force Ironhorse, 4th Infantry Division, began their inspection of a water treatment facility in Ba'Qubah, Iraq May 2 under the watchful eye of the plant manager and the few employees.

Earlier in the week a civil affairs team identified the location of the plant and did an initial assessment.

Nicholson's visit was the next step -- a deliberate assessment that identified specific areas where the facility needed improvement.

This is the beginning process of rebuilding Iraq -- plant-by-plant, town-by-town.

This team of engineers will travel through all three provinces Task Force Ironhorse is responsible for. They will also conduct assessments on power stations, roads, bridges and sewage treatment plants. Their assessments will help determine the level of need required at the sites. Once all facilities are inspected a list will be made, with priority given to sites having the greatest impact on the area and population.

Other sites may get advice or suggestions from the engineers.

"We'll encourage them to fix the problems themselves," Nicholson said. "Often times it is just a matter of putting the power people in touch with the water people."

Many facilities do not communicate with other nearby facilities, Nicholson said. For instance, one plant may have tons of pipes and a limited supply of chlorine, while another may have the opposite, but they never talk to each other.

In the case of the water plant at Ba'Qubah, Capt. David Acker, an environmental and civil engineer said it was in pretty good condition.

"It's one of the better ones I've looked at," said Acker. "Their problem was with the chlorination process."

Acker's recommendation is to replace or repair their internal chlorination system. With that repair, he feels the water quality would be close to U.S. standards.

Throughout the visit the plant manager was close on the heels of the inspectors. Not scared of what they may find, he appeared eager to help and answer questions.

"He was very friendly and cordial," said Acker. "That has been the case across the country as far as I've seen. They want their systems fixed and understand we are here to help."

As the engineers leave Ba'Qubah and headed back to base camp, they were already planning for the next day's assessments and the rebuilding of Iraq. The water plant was only one stop of many in this town.

(Editor's note: Staff Sgt. Craig Pickett is a member of the 350th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, currently deployed to South West Asia with the 4th Infantry Division.)