Airmen keep water flowing

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Sean E. Cobb
  • 447th Air Expeditionary Group Public Affairs
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AFPN) --  Keeping an air base hydrated in the desert is challenging, but Airmen here perform aquatic feats daily to guarantee the pipes do not run dry.

The Airmen of the 447th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron utilities shop supply water to more than 27 locations at military complexes around Baghdad International Airport.

“We maintain the [water] bladder farm, water lines, pumps and motors,” said Master Sgt. Kelly Williquette, 447th ECES superintendent.

Additionally, the shop maintains the infrastructure and equipment at 12 latrine facilities, six shower tents and three laundry tents.

The 12-member team comprises active-duty and Air National Guard Airmen. They work in austere conditions, coming up with quick, innovative fixes when needed, to keep water flowing through the taps.

“If someone runs out of water, that’s a total error. I can’t remember it happening on our watch,” Sergeant Williquette said. “These guys are from all walks of life, and they work well together to get this mission done.”

Two of the shop’s Airmen are currently at an undisclosed location in Iraq setting up essential utilities for operations.

“We always say, ‘All you need for a bare base is an airfield and a water source,’” said Master Sgt. Bill Kopfman, a 447th ECES utilities systems supervisor.

Sergeant Kopfman and Staff Sgt. Brent Blankenship, a 447th ECES utilities systems journeyman, work daily in temperatures nearing 100 degrees to fill water reservoirs with a 1,500-gallon water tanker.

“Everyone seems grateful when we pull up,” Sergeant Blankenship said. “Our water helps sanitize the base, maintains a healthy environment and keeps morale up.”

Driving the water truck has other benefits, Sergeant Blankenship said.

“Being a part of this shop lets us touch every member of the coalition here, the Australians, British, Nepalese, Navy and Army -- we take care of them all,” he said.

The coalition partners express their appreciation in different ways, he said.

“The Australians invited us to a barbecue, gave us Aussie hats and some insignia,” Sergeant Blankenship said.

The Airmen spend a big part of their day repairing and maintaining facilities around the airport. Crews from the shop swing through facilities five to six times daily to perform operations checks on everything from showerheads and toilets to towel racks and light bulbs.

“The environment is our biggest challenge,” said Senior Airman James Delongchamp, a utilities systems journeyman. Between the sun baking the water bladders, and dust, sand and rust in pipes and parts, repairs in the desert are a little harder and seem to take a little longer than at home, he said.

It is very satisfying to fix even the smallest part, like a showerhead, because sometimes it is those little things that mean the most to people who are giving a big part of their lives to the mission in Iraq, Airman Delongchamp said.

“Life in the Iraq would be miserable without a shower every once in awhile,” said Staff Sgt. Victoria Beghtol, a 447th Logistics Readiness Squadron vehicle management and analysis craftsman. “It’s the highlight of my day when I turn that lever and hot water comes rushing out.”

Sergeant Beghtol said he noticed the absence of mold and mildew buildup since the Airmen came here.

“Having clean showers definitely makes the experience more pleasant,” she said.

Keeping foreign objects out of the sewage pipes is a major maintenance challenge, Sergeant Williquette said. Baby wipes, paper towels, feminine napkins and plastic bags cause blockages, routinely shutting down entire latrine facilities.

“It’s no fun digging that stuff out of there,” he said.

Although their regular duties keep them busy enough, the utilities shop Airmen stepped up to more responsibilities during a recent contractor shortage.

“We manned a trash detail for our facilities and around tent city, pumped waste water and sewage and restocked paper products,” Sergeant Williquette said. “(They) might seem like small things, but camp sanitation can go bad real quick without those activities.”

Whatever challenges the shop faces, Sergeant Williquette said, the Airmen are ready to dig deep and deliver -- no matter how much muck they have to sling.