FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- When the words "water treatment specialist" are uttered, a handful of mid-90s comedies featuring dim-witted water boys turned accidental hero might spring to mind.
Quotes spoken with a Louisiana stammer like "that's some high quality H2O" or "we are the few, the proud, the Water Boys" laden with a surfer's drawl, might roll from the tongue.
Aimed at humor and gauged by their multimillion dollar gross earnings at the box offices, they've struck their mark. Yet these films do little to tell the true story of a water treatment specialist.
Recently, "Water Dogs" assigned to A Company, 210th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, explained their mission and the importance of their job during 2nd BCT's Mountain Peak on Oct. 28 at Fort Drum.
"Right now, we are purifying water from the Black River and delivering it to the main body in the Logistical Support Area (LSA) so they can have clean drinking water and stay strong through the whole field exercise," said Sgt. Janio Bermudez.
Bermudez's team arrived at the Black River with the Tactical Water Purification System and two Load Handling System Compatible Water Tanks (also known as a HIPPO) in tow. Within 40 minutes, they were unpacked and producing potable water.
"The first thing we did was throw our strainer into the Black River," Bermudez explained.
The bobber-like Dolphin strainer draws in untreated surface water (raw water) while simultaneously denying impurities like sand, mud and floating matter.
"From there, we suck raw water through the pumps that lead to the Micro Filtration (MF) tank," he continued.
The bulbous rubber tank, referred to as a 1,000-gallon onion bag, allows suspended particles that have passed through the Dolphin strainer time to settle before the water on top is pushed into the Reverse Osmosis (RO) tank.
Bermudez continued to say the water passes through two more filtration systems before chlorine is added in the final and most critical step.
"Too much chlorine, and Soldiers can become ill; too little, and the risk of bacterial growth becomes too great. A reading of two parts per million is the perfect amount for potable water," he explained.
Once the final product is properly chlorinated, Bermudez's team shipped it to the LSA, providing some 2,500 Soldiers
with clean water for consumption, personal hygiene and cooking.
Bragging about the quality of his product, Bermudez boasts there is no better water around.
"Well, from our tests, the total dissolved solids (particles in the water) and turbidity is much lower than the types of water you would get from the barracks, the water point, and even from $3 bottles of water you buy in the stores."
"Doing it over here (producing water on Fort Drum) is way better, and it's completely free for everybody to drink," Bermudez continued.
With total production rates of more than 10,000 gallons of fresh potable water in three days, the "Water Dogs" of A Company feel a great sense of accomplishment.
"You feel like the man of the hour," exclaimed Pfc. Franklin Vizcaino. "If the water is bad, that's on you, but if it's good, then everybody that knows you purified that water. (They're) just like, 'hey man, good job, the water tastes great.'
"It just feels great that I'm making this water that my battle buddies enjoy drinking," he added.
Vizcaino, previously assigned to the former 3rd Brigade Combat Team, said his job-specific training was limited there. He spent most of his time driving trucks, handling ammunition, or filling water containers at the water point.
Excited about this rare opportunity to showcase what they can bring to the fight, Vizcaino said he hopes the training becomes less of a rarity and more of a reality.
"It just feels good to come into the Army, learn a craft and do your job," Vizcaino said. "To be able to go into the field, into any type of water source and make sure my battle buddies have some water to drink is essential. You can go two weeks without eating, but you can't go two days without drinking water."
Bermudez expressed similar feelings and said that hands-on water purification is the only
way for his Soldiers to stay proficient.
"In advanced individual training, they tell us you only learn 10 percent of your job," Bermudez said. "The Soldiers I have come straight from AIT. Watching them go through all the steps and actually running through the process, you see enlightenment on their faces. It makes them feel special that they are getting to do something they have trained for. It makes them feel great about it, and I like it because I like to see my Soldiers happy."
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