Three water pump stations open in Qayarrah

By Spc. Sharla PerrinAugust 20, 2009

Water Pump
Capt. Lance Blount and the Qayarrah mayor Saleh Hassan Ali cut the ribbon at a renovated water station in Jimesa, Iraq Aug. 17. Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Di... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

MOSUL, Iraq (Army News Service, Aug. 20, 2009) - U.S. Forces in Ninewa province are working in conjunction with the Government of Iraq and local city councils to renovate three water pump stations for several communities south of here to provide water to some of the most remote villages in the area.

Headquarters and Headquarters Company and D Company, 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division and the Government of Iraq officially opened the water pump stations in and around Qayarrah, 40 miles south of Mosul, where the battalion operates.

"These projects were initiated with by 1st Bn., 12th Cav. Regt.," said Capt. Lance Blount, HQ and HQ company commander. "The stations were pre-existing, but they weren't delivering to capacity, so they were improved with additional pumps; one had two and the other had three."

Besides providing the surrounding area with fresh water for cooking and hygiene, the stations touch many other facets of the country's economy, from vendors selling parts from the local market to employing from within the area to complete the construction of the station in time for the ribbon cutting ceremonies.

"It's a multi-effect project we don't often give ourselves credit for, but it really stimulates the economy," said Blount. "Now these (water pump) parts probably aren't built in Iraq, but it even helps out the guy who transported them from the port to their location."

Though the regiment played a key part in the completion of the improved stations, the local government will be solely responsible for their maintenance.

"In time, these stations will need washers, bearings; you know just general maintenance stuff. The ownership will be on the city government, because as we continue to draw down they'll have to take over responsibility," Blount said. "We initially funded it, got it all working and improved it, but now it's the government of Iraq and the local city council's responsibility to maintain it."

(Spc. Sharla Perrin serves with Multi-National Division - North Public Affairs.)

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