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ARMY ENGINEERS COMPLETE WATER MISSION

Australian Army Engineers from Darwin’s 1^st Combat Engineer Regiment are preparing to return home after producing clean water in Padang for the last two and a half weeks.

The two Reverse Osmosis Water Purification Units (ROWPU) converted sea water into drinking water and produced over 1.3 million litres, or 180 truck loads of water to augment the local water supply. 

Padang’s water treatment facility is now back in operation and three deep wells that are also part of the system have commenced operating 24 hours a day, with assistance from three generators donated by AusAID.  

Major Brent Maddock, Commander Engineer Reconnaissance Team, says the immediate relief provided by the Army Engineers has been replaced with a more enduring solution. 

“These generators enable the three deep wells to operate 24/7 which, at a minimum, will provide three times the amount of water that the Army Water Purification Units have produced,” Major Maddock said.

Commander of the Joint Task Force, Colonel Mark Brewer, says the Army Engineers had done an outstanding job in assisting Indonesia to avert a potential water crisis in Padang following the earthquake.

“The rapid deployment of the water purification units and their prompt establishment is a good example of the broad emergency response capabilities of the ADF,” Colonel Brewer said. 

“The Army Engineers made an immediate and positive impact with water production, enabling the Indonesian authorities to repair the damaged water treatment plant and water pipes.  Now that the deep wells are also in operation, the Army Engineers are no longer required to augment the local water supply.”

With their mission complete, the Water Purification Units have now ceased operation and will return to Australia within days.

The withdrawal of the water purification plants is being closely coordinated with AusAID and the Padang Water Board.

Media Note:

Vision has been fed to all networks at Parliament House and imagery is available at:

http://www.defence.gov.au/opEx/global/oppadang/images/gallery/2009/1023/index.htm

Media contact: Defence Media Liaison: 02 6127 1999 or 0408 498 664