Tigris River Provides Drinking Water for Iraqis

Bottled water or tap water? For several years this has been an unfiltered debate in the United States. Now it is a debate for the citizens of Abu Ajil, Iraq.

A water treatment facility project was recently completed in Abu Ajil, which is located just outside of Tikrit, Iraq. The facility will provide a better purified source of water for more than 15,000 Iraqi citizens who inhabit the famed Fertile Crescent region.

For thousands of years, the Tigris River has been the wellspring of life for Iraq, providing abundant refreshment to crops, animals and the people of Ancient Mesopotamia.

The Tigris River has seen dramatic changes in the last fifty years. During the 1960’s and 70’s several dams and barrages were created to harness the river for irrigation and hydroelectric purposes according to a Georgetown University report. Additionally, former dictator Saddam Hussein created forced droughts on marsh lands in southern Iraq by constructing river obstacles.

Today, the Soldiers of Charlie Company, 1st Special Troops Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division opened the floodgates of the newly completed water treatment facility initially built by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineer several years ago.

The 1st STB executive officer Maj. Tim Powich said, “This project was stalled for a little while and it took Company C commander, Capt. Mike Gacheru working with Abu Ajil leadership as well as the PRT [Provincial Reconstruction Team] to help get this project moving again.”

Company C Commander Capt. Mike Gacheru said, “It’s a great day opening up this water project in Abu Ajil. The residents did not have water for about a year. Most of the people had to buy bottled water at the store. The people were getting sick from non-bottled water.”

The people of Iraq have endured a parched lifestyle for decades. This water treatment facility is a step forward in quenching their desire for a better life. A local Iraqi citizen said, “Thank you very much. This is a great project.”

Maj. Johnpaul Arnold
1st Brigade, 101 ABN