The Nasiriyah Water Treatment Plant in Dhi Qar Province, Iraq, was turned over to the Government of Iraq in an official signing ceremony on Sept. 12.
The ceremony, which took place at the Gulf Region Division headquarters in the International Zone, was attended by approximately 100 people – including Minister Riyadh of the Ministry of Municipalities and Public Works and Maj. Gen. James Snyder, deputy director of the Iraq Transition and Assistance Office.
The $277 million project provides potable water to five major cities in Nasiriyah province, which has approximately 550,000 residents, and employs a staff of more than 120.
“The Nasiriyah Water Treatment Plant culminates three years of partnership and hard work by each of our governments,” said Brig. Gen. Michael Walsh, commanding general of the Gulf Region Division. “The facility makes a positive impact in terms of fresh water and a boost to the economy.”
The project is the largest water project undertaken in Iraq and is capable of pumping out more than 10,000 cubic meters of water an hour.
Concurrently, a similar ceremony took place at the plant itself as the Gulf Region South district handed over operations to the Ministry and the Governorate Council.
Last week, the plant’s completion was marked by opening the city connections and allowing the water to flow into the distribution network.
Projects, like this one, show us how much we can accomplish by working together. The U.S. Government currently has completed 662 of 886 planned water projects. Of those completed projects, 508 are water treatment and sewage projects.
Source: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
