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    NMCB 74 Drills Water Well in Horn of Africa

    NMCB 74 Seabees Drill Water Well in Horn of Africa

    Courtesy Photo | Petty Officers 3rd Class Mark Britt (right) and Jeffrey Goodrum, Seabees assigned to...... read more read more

    JEDANE, ETHIOPIA

    02.11.2011

    Courtesy Story

    Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 74

    JEDANE, Ethiopia -- Seabee’s assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 74 Detail Horn of Africa’s Water Well Team, completed their first well in the village of Jedane, Ethiopia after 19 days of 24-hour operations, Feb. 11.The well will provide water to more than 3,400 locals and their livestock who until now have been walking more than 2,000 yards to draw their water from a 15-foot hole in the ground.

    Detachment Water Well arrived in Ethiopia in mid December, 2010 and spent the first month planning and preparing for the mission ahead. The drilling began Jan. 24, with the crew divided into three five-man tours (pronounced towers) and working around the clock for a total of 19 days. Chief Petty Officer Tim Taylor, assistant officer-in-charge, said that in order to strike water they had to drill through dirt, clay and some very tough layers of granite to reach a total depth of 302 feet.

    Despite some setbacks during the drilling process, the Seabee’s “Can Do” attitude and American ingenuity prevailed. Taylor modified two water pumps allowing them to work in unison to generate enough power to keep the mud flowing and the tours drilling.

    “The bore hole was drilled once with a 9 7/8 inch bit and was then reamed with a 12 1/4 inch bit to 260 feet. During our second pass with the 12 1/4 inch bit the mud pump gave way at 238 feet,” said Taylor.

    After tests for potential of hydrogen and chloroform levels revealed that the water was suitable for human consumption, the team placed the well housing unit and concrete pad, which contained a water trough for the animals.

    Qadir, Jedane’s Deputy Tribal Chairman, was in attendance for the opening of the well.

    “This is a good day for us! It’s so wonderful to have clean water, and I am very happy for this well because my people are very thirsty,” said Qadir.

    Abdi Malik, the District Water Manager said that he was so impressed with the well he is considering drafting plans to install an electric pump in the near future.

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 02.11.2011
    Date Posted: 03.02.2011 11:30
    Story ID: 66332
    Location: JEDANE, ET

    Web Views: 288
    Downloads: 0

    PUBLIC DOMAIN