Civil engineer Airmen work to connect tubes to water tanks April 18 to replenish the water supply here that was ruined by unusually high tides in the early part of February at Roi-Namur in the Marshall Islands. The Airmen have treated more than 1,840,000 gallons of water since their arrival. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Cohen A. Young)

Six Airmen from Pacific Air Forces units arrived here Feb. 4 to cure the island’s contaminated water supply ruined due to unusually high tides and have treated more than 1,840,000 gallons of water for residents here.

Unusual weather around the Pacific region caused six irregular high tides to flow across Roi-Namur and into the island water supply, said Greg Heffner, the water plant operator.

The island gets the majority of its water from lens wells that recover rain water that Mr. Heffner and his team treat daily.

Three Airmen from the 354th Civil Engineering Squadron from Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, and three from the 18th Civil Engineering Squadron from Kadena Air Base, Japan, arrived with water treatment equipment to stabilize the water supply of the island. Since their arrival, the six people have used their reverse osmosis water purification unit to convert non-potable water into drinkable water. The Airmen have been working around the clock since their arrival with Mr. Heffner.

Mr. Heffner, a former Airman himself, said that it was great working with the Airmen.

“Together we’ve treated more than 40,000 gallons daily and they have exceeded expectations,” he said.

The treated water isn’t used just for drinking; it also enables the proper cleaning of the satellites on the island and keeps them from rusting. Roi-Namur and several other islands in this region are part of the Reagan Test Site, which is vital to the U.S. space program. The test site works directly with Vandenberg AFB, Calif., and other rocket launch sites in the monitoring of much of the world’s security.

“The people here need the treated water for corrosion control,” said Staff Sgt. Heath Willis, a native of Kenai, Alaska, from the 354th CES.

“We’ve done a good thing here,” said Staff Sgt. Steven Kivetta, a native of North Pole, Alaska, with the 354th CES. “I think with our help, they have been able to conduct their day-to-day business.”

The Airmen have been working 10 to 12 hours a day treating the water by running the water from the lens wells to their reverse osmosis water purification unit to the water bladders and back through the reverse osmosis water purification unit in which they use sodium hex as a polymer that combines all chemicals in the water into one piece which is caught in the filters. This clears the water of harmful chemicals.

These Airmen enabled the mission of the Reagan Test Site to go on in ensuring stability of the region as well as the world by treating the island’s contaminated water.

US Air Force
by Tech. Sgt. Cohen A. Young
Defense Media Activity-Hawaii

Statistics don’t lie. Ninety percent of all water in Afghanistan is contaminated. The leading cause of death for Afghan children less than 5 years of age is diarrhea, often called “wasting away disease,” which can be linked directly to contaminated water.

“Water is a challenge,” said Afghan national army advisor Army Capt. Frank Tedeschi, Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan’s installation operations and maintenance director.

“You cannot mention water in Afghanistan without talking about the significant water purification and wastewater treatment effort we are undertaking in partnership with the Afghans.”

To make water safe for consumption, two major purification systems are currently being used by
the ANA.

“Just two weeks ago, Camp Zafar in Herat province became the first camp to use the nano-filtration system, which will serve more than 3,000 troops,” Tedeschi said. “Before the nano-filter was installed, their water was undrinkable due to salinity and high nitrate content.”

The new supply of potable well water eliminates the need for bottled water at Camp Zafar, resulting in savings of more than $27,000 per month for the ANA. According to Tedeschi, five other ANA camps are slated to receive the new system.

“The system at Camp Zafar can filter up to 100,000 gallons of water a day,” Tedeschi explained. “With proper treatment, we can provide a mix that is capable of doubling the daily base supply to 200,000 gallons.”

The nano-filtration system screens impurities and other harmful organisms from the water.

The other water purification system most often used is the reverse osmosis water purification unit, or ROWPU.

According to Air Force Maj. Gregory Anderson, CSTC-A program manager, ANA garrisons,
some ROWPUs have the advantage of going where they are needed most—and fast. “Mobile ROWPUs are the most versatile,” Anderson said.

“We can use them with deployed units out in the field, and they can be set up in a matter of hours.”

In addition to providing safe drinking water, Anderson explained the importance of adequate wastewater treatment.

“For smaller encampments, septic tank containment systems are adequate,” Anderson said. “For larger populations, more sophisticated systems become necessary.”

Gravity-fed sewage treatment centers utilize a series of cleansing containment tanks, chemical and biological filters and chlorine tanks to treat wastewater.

“Herat will serve as a model of success for other encampments,” said Tedeschi. “The nano-filtration system will fill an increasing need for clean water as the number of Afghan troops increases at this camp.”

Tedeschi said Afghan facility engineers are looking at how to more effectively use filtered and
effluent water to best serve the ANA camps’ needs.

“We are providing the Afghans with an invaluable resource. This is the first time most ANA troops have had access to consistently safe drinking water,” Tedeschi said.

“With a little mentoring, we can give them tools they need to sustain their army and eventually address their nation’s water-related health problems on a wider scale,” Tedeschi said.

DVIDS
By Petty Officer 1st Class Douglas Mappin
Combined Security Transition Command – Afghanistan Public Affairs