Soldier Spearheads Water Rejuvenation

Thousands of Iraqis in Basra will soon be getting access to water at the turn of the tap for the first time in 25 years, thanks in part to a Territorial Army soldier.

Warrant Officer Class 2 Douglas Smith, 46, serving with 506 Specialist Team Royal Engineers (Volunteers), has just returned home to Nottingham. Working as a member of a Provisional Reconstruction Team, in Basrah he spearheaded the campaign to reconnect water.

PRTs are UK-led with members from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Department of International and Foreign Development and corresponding agencies from Holland, the United States, Italy and Australia.

They guide and mentor the Iraqi's and try and ensure that there is a coordinated effort in reconstruction projects and Iraqi long-term investment.

The PRT in Basrah, in partnership with Iraqi national and local Government is helping over 900,000 people in 28 districts gain access to tap water by the end of June 2007 and has already provided many districts with improved sewage systems as well as new and repaired storm water systems. WO2 Smith said:

"Working on water installations may not be the most glamorous of jobs and we may not get much media attention, but the job we are doing is vital to the country."

The largest project put forward by Smith is the regeneration of the Basrah waterways and canals which were once know as the Venice of the Middle East.

The initial phase of the project is already taking place. This sees the redirection of sewerage and industrial waste away from the water course and the dredging and removing of sunken boats and other materials, allowing the canals a chance to do their primary function, which is the irrigation of the surrounding areas as well as recreation.

The water and sewerage projects also created employment to over 3,500 Iraqi civilians.

Years of neglect had left many water pipes broken and punctured and many repairs had been made with improvised materials that may have been adequate to prevent low-pressure losses but would not withstand normal pipe pressures:

"When I first arrived in 2003 there were lakes that appeared on maps that just did not look right, when I looked at them I discovered they were large burst water mains that had been left to flow out for fifteen years, these were the first areas that were repaired," Smith continued.

"People were also tapping into the water pipes near their homes so that they could get water, but that affected the water pressure, so people further down the line were not getting any water at all. It was a mammoth task. But the people wanted to help themselves, they were keen to work in order to rebuild their cities, but also to earn a wage to provide for their families."

Some 200 km of water pipes have been replaced so far, made of high density polyethylene which bends according to the lay of the ground and repairs have been made to over 5,000 leaks on the existing pipe work.

"There is now a much more robust water network in the Basrah district," Smith said. "In 2003, 95 percent of the water was lost through leaks, which have now dropped to 60 percent. This is better than London."

"It is a challenge, but there is willingness from all sides to attempt what is so desperately needed; a strong vibrant economy in a stable lawful environment and we are doing all we can to help. But this will be difficult without a robust water system."

Seven thousand septic tanks and 40 km of drains have also been cleared. A water training centre has also been established by the Department for International Development to increase the skills of Iraqi engineers in water treatment and leakage repair.

The improved water infrastructure has also benefited the businesses in the district.

"Prior to the rebuild of the water infrastructure businesses were failing because they didn't have the necessary water to keep their machinery cool. It just wasn't reaching them. As a result there was high unemployment. It had a big knock on effect. We are now beginning to see businesses starting up again and employing local people because they now have access to water that keeps the machinery running."

"It was just great to be able to put my civilian and TA experience to good use. People are no longer drinking dirty contaminated water that in some cases tragically resulted in the deaths of local Iraqis. Drinking water is not from the taps.," said Smith, who in civilian life is a plant and emergency contingency coordinator with Scottish Water. "A system of distribution points were built and the people come to them for their drinking water, this water is treated separately and can be monitored for its safety. The people were grateful for the work that was being done and wanted to help them selves."

Source: Multi-National Force-Iraq

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