Waterspring-2013
Szöveg: Sándor Galambos | 2013. január 2. 15:41As from January 1, 2013, the Hungarian Defence Forces transport drinking water to communities where the arsenic content of water exceeds the limit value set by the European Union. More than 250 soldiers have been detailed from the subordinated units of the HDF Joint Force Command to execute the task Waterspring-2013. They provide the people living in the endangered zones with healthy potable water with the help of 95 water trailers, 18 water transport trucks and five automated packaging devices with a capacity of 900 liters/hour.
A total of 240 items of military equipment are ready to carry out the task Waterspring-2013. The soldiers are to transport bagged water to towns, and to provide healthy drinking water to the residents of small communities by water trailers and water transport trucks. The bags are to be filled up at two sites, with the help of four automated packing devices at the Csongrád waterworks and one in Izsák. In line with the regulations, during the preparatory period the soldiers cleaned and disinfected the water transport and packing equipment and tested the water samples. The accreditation of the equipment has been completed, so now it is certified as suitable for transporting drinking water and for storing it for a short time.
The transport of water started at 6 a.m. on January 1. By that time, in cooperation with the local governments, the Hungarian Defence Forces had informed all residents about the times of the day and the sites where they can receive arsenic-free water – but its acceptance is not compulsory. The drinking water should be kept in a cool place for at most 48 hours. It is advisable to give it to babies and small children only after boiling.
At 123 communities around Hungary, the arsenic contamination of drinking water exceeds the 10mg/liter value set by the European Union, risking the health of 340,000 people. The government decided in September to speed up the projects to be implemented within the drinking water quality improvement program. The Minister of National Development and the Minister of the Interior are to review the schedule of these projects and explore the possibilities of acceleration. According to the order, the Ministry of Defence is to supply water for the relevant communities with the means available to it until the installation of the containerized filtering equipment is completed, which provides a permanent solution.
Photos by the author
