New water purification system provides water, optimism for the people of Samarra

FORWARD OPERATING BASE BRASSFIELD-MORA, SAMARRA, Iraq - The Government of Iraq has completed installation of a new water purification system on the Rassassi Canal, bringing clean drinking water and optimism to hundreds of needy families in the area. "Success is everywhere, and the insurgents know it," said Farhan Ra'ad Thamer, a local citizen. "The Golden Mosque is being rebuilt, the pilgrims are visiting, the water and power systems are being repaired, the farmers are farming -- the government is beginning to take care of us," he continued. Muhammad Maged Soluman, director general of water for Samarra, oversaw a team of Iraqi contractors who performed maintenance work on an existing water purification system and the construction of a new one. "This project has been a great success," said Soluman, "but it is only the beginning. We will continue our efforts until all the people of Samarra have the water they need." The 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division assisted with coordinating the funding from the Commander's Emergency Relief Program for the purification system, which consists of two water pumps, a 400kVA generator, two aluminum sulfate clarifiers and two sand filters. The new system will provide an additional 200 cubic liters of clean drinking water per hour for eastern Samarra, where the people currently suffer from a shortage of clean water. Both water units connect via 300 mm pipe that travels more than seven kilometers to four neighborhoods in the area. While the installation of a new water unit is good news for the people, much work remains to repair the destruction caused over the course of the last six years. Samarra currently receives only 2,000 cubic liters of water per hour. Nearly double that amount is required to bring clean water reliably to the entire city. As construction of the nearby Jalisia Power Station nears completion, the electrical grid in eastern Samarra will be dramatically improved, making continued operation of the water units more reliable, and the installation of new units a possibility. "The people in Samarra are very excited about all the improvements being made," said local citizen Munther Jasim al-Abasi. "The security is good, and the children are going to school without fear."