Military News
Soldiers help purify water in Trinidad town
By Sgt. Ann Benson, Texas Military Forces Public Affairs
May 13, 2008 - 10:29:02 AM

Blackanthem Military News

Col. Robert Casias, commander for the Partnership American Engagement Team-Caribbean, talks with Clive Pierre, a project manager for special projects with the Water and Septic Agency out of Chaguanas, Trinidad, at the future reverse osmosis water purification site in Mayaro, Trinidad on April 24. Casias and a small group of Soldiers from Beyond the Horizon, a joint humanitarian training exercise, visit the site to see what needs to be done before they can start purifying water there. (Texas Military Forces photos by Sgt. Ann Benson)

MAYARO, Trinidad - Col. Robert Casias, commander for the Partnership American Engagement Team-Caribbean, and a small group of Soldiers from Beyond the Horizon, a joint humanitarian training exercise, visited the town of Mayaro on April 24 to check out the site where they hoped to set up a reverse osmosis water purification system.

"My goal was to pump 200,000 gallons of water in Mayaro," said Col. Casias.

The colonel explained that the water purification project is an added flex mission that demonstrates the idea for Beyond the Horizon in that U.S. military members are going beyond the call of duty and looking past their mission and into how they can help the communities here.

"We want to use the ROWPU system to provide water for the people," said Colonel Casias. "We are running out of time [to do it]."

He said they had four weeks to get it done because the exercise will be rapping up and personnel and equipment will be gone.

"We are anxious to purify water, but we need the help of local officials to help get the electricity and plumbing. We also need help with cleaning up the site and help with providing security for the site," said Colonel Casias. "We are still hopeful that we will be able to pull it off."

The site selected is the Ortoire Heritage Market, where local people fish on the river.

"This building is a civic center," said Cpl. William Ledford, 49th Theater Information Operations Group. "[The local leaders and Water and Septic Agency engineers] just have to reinstall the breakers for the electrical box. They also need to get the city water flowing for showers and toilets."

When it comes to purifying the river water, the ROWPU is a self-contained unit. The ROWPU system can purify thousands of gallons of water from a variety of water sources to include: wells, lakes, seas, lagoons, rivers, oceans and ice holes. Like any system, however, it doesn't go just anywhere because it is a very expensive piece of equipment.

"We can't just bring the system to just any water," said Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Connor, a water purification specialist with the Virgin Islands National Guard. "It depends on the quality of water and the site itself."

Sergeant Connor said the river water was tested for the type of water and was tested for chlorine levels. It was also tested for any harmful stuff. He added that preventative medicine personnel also did some testing on the water as well to make sure it would be drinkable.

The local community is very excited about the water purification project planned.

"It is very interesting because we have a water problem in the area," said Clive Pierre, a project manager for special projects with the Water and Septic Agency out of Chaguanas, Trinidad.

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS:

Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Connor, a water purification specialist with the Virgin Islands National Guard, talks with Clive Pierre, a project manager for special projects with the Water and Septic Agency out of Chaguanas, Trinidad, at the future reverse osmosis water purification site in Mayaro, Trinidad, April 24. Sergeant Conner and a small group of Soldiers from Beyond the Horizon, a joint humanitarian training exercise, visit the site to see what needs to be done before they can start purifying water there. (Texas Military Forces photos by Sgt. Ann Benson)

"We are anxious to purify water, but we need the help of local officials to help get the electricity and plumbing. We also need help with cleaning up the site and help with providing security for the site," said Col. Robert Casias, commander for the Partnership American Engagement Team-Caribbean during his visit to the future reverse osmosis water purification site in Mayaro, Trinidad, April 24. Colonel Casias and a small group of Soldiers from Beyond the Horizon, a joint humanitarian training exercise, visit the site to see what needs to be done before they can start purifying water there. (Texas Military Forces photos by Sgt. Ann Benson)