Improving the quality of life through water

Photo By Spc. Shane Samuels | U.S. Army 1st Lt. Geraldo Aquino of the 1411 Civil Affairs company takes a tour of the Hasmayah Water Treatment Facility with the manager Halleem Kitham Radhi, April 19, Hasmayah, Iraq. The Hasmayah Water Treatment Facility will pump water to the village. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Shane Samuels)  

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, IRAQ

05.03.2010

Courtesy Story

1st Infantry Division

CONTINGENCY OPERATING STATION KALSU, Iraq – Iraqi leaders joined Soldiers of 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, April 19, to view completed updates to the Hashimiyah, Iraq, water treatment facility.

The project, led by 1st Lt. Gerardo Aquino, a member of the 1411th Civil Affairs Company from Edison, N.J., currently attached to the 3rd HBCT, has improved efficiency and water quality for the over 500,000 Iraqis served by the facility.

"Before the improvements, there was an outbreak of cholera in the area due to the poor quality of water," Aquino said. "The old system was operating at less than 70 percent efficiency."

Improvements to the facility included replacing the sand, a medium used for filtering, and installing a new chlorine-metering system, as well as other upgrades, he said.

"It is an existing plant, an old plant," said Aquino. "What we did was improve the efficiency and quality of the plant while the Government of Iraq finishes a new, larger facility in the area."

Aquino added that the station is now operating at approximately 90 percent efficiency and providing good, clean water to local residents.

• Date Taken: 05.03.2010
• Date Posted: 05.03.2010 06:50
• Story ID: 49033
• Location: CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, IQ