Water technicians supply critical resource at Fort Bragg

Photo By Gunnery Sgt. Katesha Washington | Sgt. Alan Goldstein, the water purification noncommissioned officer-in-charge,...... read more read more

Photo By Gunnery Sgt. Katesha Washington | Sgt. Alan Goldstein, the water purification noncommissioned officer-in-charge, Engineer Company, Combat Logistics Battalion 2, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, releases water from the Tactical Water Purification System 500-gallon bladder, during a field exercise aboard Fort Bragg, N.C., April 23. The battalion conducted the exercise to simulate combat logistics convoy operations, general engineering, and command and control operations in preparation for their future deployment to Afghanistan.  see less | View Image Page

FORT BRAGG, NC, UNITED STATES

04.30.2010

Courtesy Story

II Marine Expeditionary Force   

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FORT BRAGG, N.C. - One of the worst things that can happen when conducting a foot patrol or supply convoy while deployed to a blistering climate like Afghanistan, is to put your lips around the drinking tube of your CamelBak hydration system, pull the bite valve open with your teeth and attempt to suck in much-needed water - only to realize there is no more.

Lack of water in high-stress situations such as combat can often mean the difference between life and death. According to the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, if the human body is dehydrated by just two percent, physical and cognitive performance is considerably diminished.

Sgt. Alan Goldstein, the non-commissioned officer-in-charge of the Water Purification section, Combat Logistics Battalion 2, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, recently participated in the battalion's field exercise where he was responsible for producing 6,000 gallons of freshly purified water everyday for nine days, to 530 Marines and sailors at Ft. Bragg, N.C. The exercise was conducted to simulate combat logistics convoy operations, general engineering, and command and control operations in preparation for their future deployment to Afghanistan.

Goldstein said most people don't think about how important water is to completing the mission, until they become thirsty. By that time, their bodies have already become dehydrated.

"It's important to be able to consistently deliver fresh water to Marines and sailors during training exercises and even more importantly, in a place such as Afghanistan where the temperature can get up to 130 degrees," he explained. "If we don't get the water to them on a regular basis, it could hinder the unit's mission."

Goldstein also used the exercise as a prime opportunity to train his new Marines on the proper techniques and process to purify any water source through reverse osmosis. Reverse osmosis is the movement of fresh water through a semi-penetrable membrane or when pressure is applied to a non-potable water source, such as seawater or raw sewage.

Although the source of the water may be less than desirable, Goldstein said he can take any dirty water and completely purify it within a matter of minutes. He said the water is so clean, it has 60 to 70 percent less total dissolved solids, or dirt, than the majority of bottled water sitting on the shelves in supermarkets.

"The only water that is cleaner than the water we purify, is FIJI water," he said. "Just about everything else that's sold out there is not as clean as our water."

Part of the reason Goldstein and his Marines are able to provide such clean drinking water to the battalion is because of the constant testing they do before and after it goes through the Tactical Water Purification System. Some of the factors they consider when testing water are the level of the tide of ocean water, the amount of chlorine-based chemicals used to achieve correct pH balance, and the level of dirt and bacteria in the water.

Lance Cpl. Brandon Piteck, a water technician with CLB-2, will deploy for the first time when the battalion leaves this summer for Afghanistan. He said the training he has received during the exercise has taught him more than the basic lessons of purifying water he received at his military occupation specialty school and he is ready to help Marines and sailors safely accomplish the mission by providing such a major necessity.

"You need water for everything you do, so I am really looking forward to deploying because I want to do my job to help my unit be successful," he said.

The next step for the battalion on their way to Afghanistan is to complete training at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, Calif. The battalion is scheduled to deploy in support of Operation Enduring Freedom this summer.