Posted on 12/08/2009 3:46:47 PM PST by SandRat
Staff Sgt. Jeff Blanchard, 422nd Civil Affairs Battalion, photographs the work done on one of the canals that feed into a solar powered water filtration system providing clean water to 240 Iraqi families in Zadan, Dec. 5. Photo courtesy of Multi-National Division – Baghdad.
BAGHDAD — U.S. Civil Affairs Soldiers assessed solar powered water filtration systems installed by Iraqi contractors here in the Zadan village area of Abu Ghraib, Dec. 5.
Soldiers and engineers of the 422nd Civil Affairs Battalion (CAB) rolled out to various villages within the Zadan area, in western Baghdad, to inspect the filtration systems constructed to provide clean drinking water for Iraqis.
CAB Soldiers conduct follow-up missions to make sure contractors complete projects and solve the problems the projects were designed to fix, said Staff Sgt. Jeff Blanchard, a 422nd CAB team sergeant from Polkville, N.C.
These projects are made possible with Commander’s Emergency Relief Program funding through micro-grants, said Blanchard.
Five solar powered water filtration systems were installed in various villages around the area.
Each filtration system can convert 15 liters of contaminated water per minute into safe drinking water, which will provide 240 Iraqi families with 30 liters of clean water per day, said Husam Abbas, an Iraq-born contractor who works with the 422nd CAB.
The filters collect and concentrate ultraviolet rays from the sun, killing harmful bacteria and providing safe drinking water for the local populace.
Another advantage of these systems is the cost; just $45,500 for all five units, according to Abbas. A comparable water filtration system in the U.S. would cost $120,000 per unit, he said.
Abbas plans to suggest a few improvements for future systems. One of these improvements would be a larger water tank, increasing the size from 3,000 to 4,000 liters. Another would involve placing a fenced-in area around the water tank to prevent insurgents from tampering with the clean water and from stealing valuable parts.
Projects like this offer immediate assistance to the Iraqi people and provide water for drinking, cleaning and cooking. Blanchard concluded that this could prevent the desperation that leads to hostility.
Sorry...
Again, something you won’t hear from the MSM. But they had no problem reporting the bombing today.
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