Soldiers turn water on in Nasiriyah
by Spc. Julie M. NicolovTALLIL AIR BASE, Iraq (Army News Service, April 28, 2003) - Villagers around An Nasiriyah, Iraq, will have access to fresh drinking water this week due to the efforts of military and local engineers.
"What we're here to accomplish is to get water, which had been running prior to the war, back into the communities," said Lt. Col. Jeff Bryant, team commander, 486th Civil Affairs Battalion.
The water was interrupted when the electric company suffered extensive damage during the war in southern Iraq.
Without electricity, the two water stations that provide service to approximately 3,500 people in and around the city could not pump water. Those living in the area have been without running water for going on two months, according to Bryant.
During that time, trucks delivered water regularly, and coalition forces donated drinking water to area hospitals. The local electric company needs extensive repairs and it may take two or more months to fix, Reily said. Until then, coalition forces donated a mobile generator to run the pumps.
"The biggest obstacle we have is getting generators to the site and getting them wired to the pumps," said Lt. Col. Patrick Reily, commander, Facility Engineers, Detachment C.
However, the engineers expect the water to be flowing soon.
"We believe we can have it up and running in two days," Reily said last week. Locals will be able to draw water for approximately four hours a day, according to the engineers.
"There's only enough fuel to run the pumps that feed all the areas in Iraq for about four hours a day," Reily said. "So they don't run out of fuel, they will continually provide partial service."
The water service is expected to be back to normal after the electric company is repaired.
(Editor's note: Spc. Julie M. Nicolov is a member of the 22nd MPAD)
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