Home » Archives » "Artillerymen Help Bring Water to Iraqi Villages"

Artillerymen Help Bring Water to Iraqi Villages

Jan-14-2006 » Filed Under: 172nd SBCT

Link to Full Article with Photo
Story and photo by Sgt. Ashly Rice
101st Sustainment Brigade

Q-WEST BASE COMPLEX, IRAQ — Battery C, 4th Battalion, 11th Field Artillery Regiment and Rakan Daille, a local contractor, dedicated the Shukran Water Treatment Project in a ceremony recently, marking the payoff of a long-term project.

Water serving the area outside of the Q-West southeast gate was unsatisfactory until Oct. 12, when the first fresh water pumped out of the Shukran Water Treatment Project.

Work on the water treatment facility began before the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team unit arrived at Q-West. Platoon leader 2nd Lt. Jeremy Conner and Sgt. 1st Class Robert Tanner, platoon sergeant, oversaw the project for the unit.

Battalion civil affairs and executive officer, 1st Lt. Phillip Kerber, handled the quality control of the project.

“The Shukran Water Treatment Facility pumps water from the Tigris across the desert to Al Hadr, the biggest town and the other four smaller towns,” said Capt. James Mitchell, Battery C commander. “The project cost approximately $83,000 to complete.”

Improvements to the water treatment facility include two new pumps that push water to the smaller villages and two larger pumps that push water to Al Hadr.

Six repaired filters and new concrete water tanks are also additions to the water facility.

“We have 43 personnel to assist in running the water treatment facility, with seven personnel who look over it constantly,” said Sabar Tali Muhammad, water treatment facility manager.

“(Everyone) worked well on the project, and I would like to give thanks to the Army, Mr. Ali, Sabar and to all of the people who helped out,” said Rakan Daille.

“Before, dirty water was pushed out, but now clean water is pushed out to five villages.”

This project is only the beginning of the help Charlie Battery has in store for the local area. The unit has future improvements in the works to help restore surrounding towns.

“It is a wonderful experience to help rebuild our country,” said Daille.


Advertisements