SECDEF POSTWAR BRIEFING ON DESERT STORM EQUIPMENT

File: 082696_d50039_001.txt
Page: 001
Total Pages: 21
                           UNCLASSIFIED

                                                      3100
                                                      MCRDAC/ SSE
                                                      23 Jul 91


                           POINT PAPER

Subj:  SECDEF   POSTWAR  BRIEFING  ON   DESERT   STORM  EQUIPMENT
       PERFORMANCE - WATER PURIFICATION, STORAGE AND DISTRIBUTION

1.  As the Executive Agency~f or the DOD Water Res6urces Management
Action Group, the U.S. Army has been tasked to provide from that
perspective, the postwar brief ing on Desert Storm water support.

2.  During the first phase of Operation Desert Shield, the Marine
Corps  committed from  Maritime  Pre-Positioned Ships,  (MPS) the
necessary water support assets required for forces ashore. Planned
phase-in of additional capabilities by the U. S. Army, allowed them
to assume overall theater support responsibilities.

EQUIPMENT

     - USMO  and  Army  units  used same  Reverse  Osmosis  Water
       Purification units (ROWPUs).
     - Army brought in special high capacity ROWPUs for theater
       support mission.
     - ROWPUs produced water from saltwater/brackish water sources.

TRAINING

     - Bulk of Army water support equipment/personnel resident in
       reserve forces - required in-theater/inobilization training.
     - USMC equipment/personnel organic to active units - required
       no additional training.

OPERATION

     - USMC provided initial water support from MPS assets. Army
       provided overall theater support once deployed to SWA.
     - Ar'ny/USMC water points available to all in-theater forces
     - Army provided bulk line-haul distribution to US forces.
     - Limited  use  of  hoseline  distribution  due  to tactical
       dispersion of units.
     - Water stored on MPS retained as contingency stock.

SUNMARY

     - SWA water support operation~s were highly successful.
     - Army and USMC water production/distribution equipment and
       doctrine validated.
     - Improvements in some items of equipment being addressed.
     - DOD water planning factors were validated.
     - No occurrences of waterborne diseases reported.