The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Gulf Region Division completed four reconstruction projects and started one new project in Iraq from Dec.18, 2006-Jan. 1, 2007.
Three of the completed projects are the $411,000 Trebil water system in Al Anbar Province, the $722,000 Al Mada'in Central Water Treatment Plant in Baghdad Province, and the $349,000 Basrah sewage connection in Basrah Province.
The Al Anbar project renovated the well heads and pumps at the Trebil point of entry. A new well house was built and more than 2,000 meters of waterline was laid. This is the only source of potable water in the region and serves the Trebil point of entry as well as the nearby Palestinian refugee camp.
The Bagdad project rehabilitated an existing water treatment plant, which consisted of repairing pumps, coagulation tanks and motors. The renovation will provide clean, pressurized water to more than 100,000 residents in the area.
The Basrah project activated 10 sewer pump stations by connecting a permanent power supply to the national grid. This project will improve living conditions for residents by removing sewage from the streets.
"Water and sewage projects like these help reduce the transmission of water-borne disease, which in turn provides a healthier living environment," said Brig. Gen. Michael Walsh, commander of the Gulf Region Division. "Improvement of basic services throughout Iraq makes living conditions more comfortable and healthy and helps restore Iraqis' faith in their government's ability to provide for them."
More than 95 percent of the Gulf Region Division's Public Works and Water sector projects - which include water treatment, sewage and resources - have been started.
At the transfer of sovereignty in June 2004, there were just 200 projects started. As of Jan. 1, 2007, the Department of Defense has 3,778 total planned projects representing a construction cost of $10.34 billion.
- 658 are under construction at a construction cost of $2.67 billion.
- 3,026 have been completed at a construction cost of $7.11 billion.
- 94 more projects are planned.
The results of these efforts have improved the quality of life for the area in the following ways:
- Due to added capacity and normal operation and maintenances of systems, electrical generation is at 4,228 megawatts, serving approximately 512,000 homes with an end goal of 6,000 MW and 1.3 million homes served.
- Potable water is at 430k m3/day with 2.2 million people affected with an end goal of 1,136k m3/day and an end goal of 5.2 million people affected. Crude oil production is at 2.5 million barrels per day with an end goal of 3 million BPD.
Throughout Iraq, U.S. government ongoing projects aim to improve the quality of life and economic stability.
Source: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
