Iraqi Water Systems to Be Rehabilitated

The work will also train local operators on site in the technology and maintenance of the water systems.

BAGHDAD, Iraq, Aug. 18, 2005 — Three governorates will soon see an upgrade in treated potable water, according to an announcement today by a team of Iraqi and U.S. government entities. From the $18.4 billion allocated for the total Iraq Reconstruction Program, about $3 million is budgeted to bring treated potable water to approximately 25,000 Iraqi citizens in the Dahuk, Babylon, and Wassit governorates. The projects will upgrade 15 systems each, including water wells, compact potable water treatment plants and pumps.

The contracts were competed and awarded to local Iraqi contractors, with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers providing quality assurance oversight. Each of the 15 sites will daily employ approximately 20 Iraqi laborers.

The work will also train local operators on site in the technology and maintenance of the water systems. Completion dates for the 15 projects vary, but all are scheduled to be finished by January 2006.

At the time of transfer of sovereignty in June 2004, there were just over 200 reconstruction projects started in Iraq. As of mid-August, 2,738 projects have started -valued at about $6.5 billion. Currently 1,090 projects are ongoing at a program value of about $4.5 billion, and 1,648 projects are completed-valued at about $2 billion.

Here is a relevant post from a buddy of mine who commands an Army Reserve company there. It is from June.

"Speaking of historic efforts, the local regiment is working with us, the American advisors, to relieve some serious suffering in the area surrounding our base. Several villages have lost their water supply and we have been relieving that crisis by trucking in water from our base daily. Unfortunately, we are too late for some of the local children. The villages have been drinking from what can only be described as disgusting mud puddles for several weeks. As you might imagine, the puddles were filled with all kinds of vile bacteria and several of the local children contracted typhoid and black fever. Many are hospitalized, and a few are dead. Those who could flee the crisis did. The villagers who remain have no place to go.

Now that we are delivering fresh water every day, the situation is improving dramatically. We take food and candy to the local children whenever we can, but our supplies here are limited to what we receive from home. We have involved the "big army" and we expect the water supply to be fully restored in a matter of weeks. Additionally, we have secured funding to build one new school, and we are working to get funding to build two more! As I said earlier, this is heart-wrenching, but fulfilling work!"

Long before the Oil for Food Program and sanctions, Saddam made sure his country went down hill. Only influential neighborhoods in Baghdad and other cities close enough to large lakes and the river systems had operational water systems. So many fail to realize how many Iraqis have been getting things they never had before, such as clean water, waste treatment plants, underground piping for these things, electricity where they never had it before other then using local desiel/power generators etc.. This stuff has been going on for a year and a half. And seldom ever reported. That is, the new stuff our Army corps. of Engineers and commercial contractors set up under Bremmer's guidance way back when.
I am glad we are finally starting to see stuff brought out.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.