Clean Water Soldiers

By U.S. Army Press Release - February 22, 2019

Soldiers from Alpha Company, 601st Aviation Support Battalion, 1st Combat Vitiation Brigade, 1st Infantry Division had the opportunity to set up their Tactical Water Purification System (TWPS) and get some training on how they can use this tool to hydrate Soldiers in areas where clean what is scarce.

By Sgt. Patrick Jubrey, Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Infantry Division

Got water? Well if not, Soldiers from Alpha Company, 601st Aviation Support Battalion, 1st Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Infantry Division can supply you with clean drinking water with their Tactical Water Purification System or better known as TWPS.
Soldiers from Alpha Company, 601st Aviation Support Battalion, 1st Combat Aviation brigade, 1st Infantry Division began training on their TWPS, February 14, 2019 on Storck Barracks, Illesheim Germany as a part of there on going preparation for the “Ready to Fight” mission.
The Tactical Water Purification System is designed to give Soldiers access to clean drinking water from areas where water is not abundant or nonexistent. Dirty water is pushed through two filters to remove all the visible impurities. Chemicals are then added to remove all other harmful particles that might be in the water, to where the result is clean drinking water that can be moved anywhere in the fight.
“This (TWPS) allows us to take water sources from just about anything, like a pond or ocean,” said 2nd Lt. Thomas Newman, Alpha Company, 601st Aviation Support Battalion, 1st Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, platoon leader. “Through this machine, it will purify it and turn it into drinking water.”
The TWPIS system is an important part to the 1st Combat Aviation Brigade to remain ready to fight while in Germany. When it becomes difficult to transport water back and forth to a base, the TWPS system provides a more efficient and effective way for Soldiers to receive water. “We can set this [TWPS] system down right here, which allows us to shorten our logistic train,” said Newman.
Learning how to operate this system is part of being a 92W, Water Treatment Specialist. “One of the coolest things that I had done with this was take it to field and create a shower for the Soldiers in the field.” Said Cpl. Tony Trinh, Alpha Company, 601st Aviation Support Battalion, 1st Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Infantry Division.
Alpha Company, 601st Aviation Support Battalion is currently on a rotation in Europe as part of the 1st Combat Aviation Brigade during their Atlantic Resolve mission.