Photo By Chief Petty Officer Kathleen Gorby | PUERTO CASTILLA, Honduras - U.S. Marine Water Purification Specialists, assigned to...... read more read more
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PUERTO CASTILLA, Honduras - Water is a basic necessity of life that most people take for granted, notably clean water. The citizens of Puerto Castilla, Honduras have not had clean water since 2010 when their water treatment systems were damaged beyond repair.
Marines assigned to 8th Engineer Support Battalion in Camp Lejeune, N.C., and its Water Purification Team render assistance. U.S. Marines are deployed as part of the Adaptive Force Package in support of the Southern Partnership Station-Joint High Speed Vessel 2015.
The Marines deployed to purify the water for a 125-personnel camp. The mission changed when the needs of an adjacent community was deemed greater than that of the US military forces. The AFP assisted members of the community and tasked the Marines to purify water.
The city of Puerto Castilla comprises of approximately 2,100 and has not had access to purified water for over five years. The initiative of the AFP provided 250 families access to purified water. The Waterdawgs, (nickname given to the Marine Water Purification Specialists), sought improvement within the local community.
“It feels good to be able to put my training to good use,” said Cpl. Wesley Tronolone, the Water Purification Specialist in charge of the team. “This is the first time I have purified water for a community and I am very happy that I am here to do this for the people in Honduras that are in so much need.”
The Marines are using the Lightweight Water Purification System to purify dirty water into quality water for the families that need it. The LWPS is man-portable and can be set-up in as little as 45 minutes by one person.
Water Purification Technician Lance Cpl. Teran Seidel, a native of Breckenridge, Mich., on his first deployment, is part of the water purification team.
“They definitely need the water here, the people lined up very early to get their jugs,” said Seidel. “It gives you a very good feeling being able to help out.”
Despite the hot temperature and humidity, families lined up early to receive their water jugs from the hands of the Honduran Naval Force. The Water Purification Team plans to give out 1,000 five-gallon water jugs and as much water as the families need for this week.
“I am just glad that we are able to do this for the surrounding community,” said Lt. Col. Rudy Quiles, Southern Partnership Station 2015 deputy mission commander, “We want to distribute as much water as the villagers need and hope to meet the supply demand.”
For Quiles, the hope is that next year more water purification systems are brought so that instead of helping just one community, they can go to other surrounding communities and provide aid to those in need.
SPS-JHSV 15 is an annual series of U.S. Navy deployments, fostering a lasting relationship with the host nations by promoting and enhancing regional stability and security through the sharing of experiences as well as humanitarian assistance missions and civil projects.
| Date Taken: | 08.10.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 08.24.2015 10:46 |
| Story ID: | 173479 |
| Location: | PUERTO CASTILLA, HN |
| Web Views: | 48 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
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