Streams of water bring progress, hope to village

Photo By Michael Molinaro | AL MUHAWIL, Iraq -- Iraq continues to complete major projects like the new water treatment plant which opened Sunday. Capt. Brian McCarthy, commander, Troop B, 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, examines the water flow at the plant.  

AL MUHAWIL, IRAQ

01.29.2006

Courtesy Story

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Story and photos by Pfc. Michael Molinaro
2nd BCT PAO, 4ID

AL MUHAWIL, Iraq - As Iraq continues its steady pace on the road to self-reliance, essential services are returning to small communities.

In the Al Muhawil muhallah, a new water treatment plant opened Sunday with a formal ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by residents and the town council.

"This opening shows that we are headed in the right direction," said Hussein Jabor, mayor of Al Muhawil. "This is a testament to the hard work of the Iraqi people and the strong partnership we have with Coalition Forces."

That partnership goes beyond patrolling the streets and tracking down terrorists, said Capt. Brian McCarthy, commander, Troop B, 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division.

U.S. company commanders meet with local leaders in cities and villages throughout Iraq on a regular basis to assess each community's needs and find creative and cooperative ways to solve problems.

"We are working hand-in-hand with the Iraqi people to provide security and the ability to do good things for the people of Iraq," said McCarthy.

McCarthy and Jabor worked together on the clean water project, which began two years ago with the help of Coalition Forces.

One million cubic liters of water will pump through the Al Muhawil station on a daily basis. Plans call for completion of a similar project on the other side of town later this year to bring clean drinking water to more than 20,000 residents for the first time in many years, McCarthy said.

Local area farmers benefit from the opening of the plant as well, McCarthy added, and a healthy local agricultural industry will create a stronger economy, which will profit everyone.

"People need to see the progress being made," said Jabor. "They need to know that we're taking care of the future of Iraq. Soon, our security forces will allow us to live and prosper all over this great country of ours. We will have more and more project openings and the ceremonies will get bigger and better."

While residents mingle and children play in the streets, and with the opening of projects like this one, the Babil province will grow out of its fear of terrorism to one with promise and hope, said Sheik Abu Yasir.

"The United States had the same troubles at one time that we have now and it succeeded," Yasir pointed out. "We believe that with hard work, we will too succeed."

• Date Taken: 01.29.2006
• Date Posted: 02.04.2006 13:04
• Story ID: 5318
• Location: AL MUHAWIL, IQ