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From CPT Mike Monaco at Bayji, Iraq

Thursday, October 16, 2003

The Bayji Water Treatment Facility Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony went extremely well today. You probably won't see it on the news back home because all the news crews decided to film pieces of the memorial services that happened this morning instead. We had Fox and CNN laid on but they didn't show. Generally, they tend to focus on negative aspects of this operation I guess. Iraqi news crews and newspaper press were at the event so that might be a stronger showing in the long run.

Today was perhaps one of the best days I've had since being a part of this operation (6-7mos). Approximately 120,000 folks of the industrial town of Bayji can drink from the 15 million gallons of fresh chlorinated and filtered water being treated at this major facility. Saddam built the facility back in 1984 and the facility went to hell because nobody maintained it, nor did they have the ability to receive $$ from their government for repair parts, etc. That is basically the norm for ever major public works facility I've seen in the 4ID AO. Saddam spent all the $$ he had on Guns, Ammo, and Palaces instead.

We had the Bayji Town Mayor, several tribal sheiks, the contractor, the military ground unit - 3-66 AR S-3, combat camera, several folks from my Division Engineer Section, the facility manager, the workers, and about 20-30 local Iraqi Police present along with many folks from the town. Our DIV EN section initially assessed the facility, wrote up a statement of work document, then acquired funding approval from the Coalition Provisional Authority in the amount of $471,000. We solicited bids from 4 major Iraqi contracting companies and then signed a contract with the most promising one - Al Thuraya. Al-Thuraya rehabilitated the water treatment plant for the past 2 months and their results have absolutely amazed me! $471,000 can fix a ton of stuff! The plant actually works now and it's pumping out so much pressure that some villages and towns now have water pressure for the first time in 10 years!! Their sheik's actually thanked us today during the ceremony for our help if you can believe this!!

The ceremony was well planned and actually carried out by the contractor. The Bayji Mayor thanked everyone and agreed to accept responsibility for maintaining the plant and resupplying it with necessary chemical supplies in the future. They slaughtered a sheep and spread its blood on the facility grounds for good luck (a custom thing). COL Nicholson (my boss, the DIV EN) and I drunk a nice (4ID Stenciled Pint Glass) of freshly chlorinated "Bayji" water with the town mayor, the facility manager, and the town engineer. The water tasted good and I'm not sick yet!! Our combat camera and military press folks took plenty of photos and I'm supposed to receive them tomorrow...I'll be sure to send. [...]

CPT Michael Monaco
4th ID Engineer Targeting Officer
USMA '98
posted by Bill at 8:41 AM

 
From CPT Mike Monaco at Bayji, Iraq

Tuesday, October 21, 2003

It was a good ceremony, one of many that happen here in Iraq each week. Whether it's courthouses, schools, hospitals, water treatment facilities, government buildings, border patrol outposts, police stations, etc., the 4th ID is helping to rebuild Iraq along with ridding it of bad guys.

Some photos... [Each opens in new window.]

Ribbon cutting ceremony
COL and mayor
Toast - COL mayor and contractor
Working pumps
Director explaining procedures
Discussing water treatment

CPT Michael Monaco
4th ID Engineer Targeting Officer
USMA '98
posted by Bill at 12:11 AM