Camp Julien

Supervised the operation of a 350m³/day nano-filtration water treatment plant and 10,000L/day water bottling plant. These facilities serviced the requirements for the Canadian Armed Forces operating out of Camp Julien in Kabul, Afghanistan. Camp Julien housed 4,000 soldiers, including 2,000 Canadians, serving with the NATO International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) to camp closure in December 2005.

Each 90 m deep well equipped with a 10 HP submersible motor and 6” turbine pump produced 5-8 L/sec of water. The two wells are on a LEAD/LAG cycle controlled via a floatation system within a 50,000L stainless steel settling tank with attached Wingert® cyclonic sand extractors.

After the sand removal, the water is then filtered through three pre-filter cartridges: a 10-micron pre-filter, a 5-micron granulated activated carbon (GAC) filter, and a 5-micron post carbon filter. The 6” pre-filter cartridges protect the 0.005µm nanofiltration membranes from fine-sized particles, which may be present in the feed water.

The nano-filtration array itself operates between 100-120 psi and can produce up to 300m³/day of permeate water. About 100-150m^3/day of the incoming water did not pass through the membranes. Suspended and dissolved contaminates concentrated in this water was discharged into either one of the two ditches that ran through the camp.

Permeate from each membrane housing flows into a common header from which it flows through a flow meter and to the outlet point of the NF system and into the UV disinfection unit.

UV disinfection is accomplished using two 45 W high intensity slim-line germicidal UV lamps. Water leaving the plant is consistently below the latest 0.1 NTU Canadian guideline for membrane-filtered water.

The plant was equipped with an acid cleaner used to remove scale, iron and metal hydroxide colloids without damaging the membrane elements. A high pH cleaner was used to remove biological, organic and colloidal foulants.

The permeate is chlorinated using 12% sodium hypochlorite via a peristaltic pump to approximately 0.6-0.8mg/L free chlorine residual (a higher residual is desired during the summer months).

Four above ground 90,000L reservoir bladders provide water storage. Water pressure is supplied from four pressure tanks that are kept between 40-60 psi from two 7.5 HP motor distribution pumps. A third similar distribution pump remains on standby as a fire booster pump.

Basic chemical analysis including free and total chlorine residual, turbidity, pH, hardness, alkalinity, temperature, colour, P-A test, ozone and coliform counts (total and fecal) can be done in theatre. Samples are sent weekly to an independent lab in Dubai, U.A.E. for Heterotrophic Plate Count (HPC), Total Coliforms, Fecal Coliforms, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeroginosa. Every six months water samples are sent to a lab in Canada for a complete chemical analysis in accordance with the Canadian Drinking Water regulations as outlined in the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality sixth edition.

Water plant operators were responsible for:

• Monitoring water treatment plant system pressures, reservoir levels, flow rates, online analyzers
• Conducting routine testing of chlorine throughout the distribution system
• Adjusting chemical feed rates, and operating valves and pumps
• Inspecting pumps, piping, filters, chemical feeds, chemical storage, valves, pressure sensors, clear well, and pre-filter media/cartridges
• Backwashing filters and cleaning membranes
• Recording plant operation data
• Ensuring water quality through testing physical, chemical, and biological parameters and recording findings
• Performing scheduled preventive maintenance and corrective maintenance when required
• Calibrating equipment in accordance with the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) recommendations

The pre-treatment room for the water bottling plant (WBP) contained a GAC filtration system to reduce chlorine to below 0.1 mg/L, an air-cooled corona discharge ozone generator, and two germicidal UV disinfection lamps and a 5,000 L storage reservoir.

The capacity of the 8-person manual water bottling line was 500-550 bottles/hour of operation. Nearly 2 million bottles 1 L bottles were produced during the operation of the WBP in Camp Julien.

I had the opportunity to observe the outstanding performance and contribution of Mr. Mike Hewitt while commanding the Canadian Military Contingent stationed at Camp Julien, in KABUL, Afghanistan. I found him to be a focused professional who had his goals well placed. What impressed me was that he was able to maintain operational effectiveness, working in a very complex and high stress environment, while supervising a large number of multinational employees.

Mr. Mike Hewitt was employed as the Water Supply and Shop Supervisor at Camp Julien. Mr. Mike Hewitt’s primary responsibility was the overall responsibility for both the Water Treatment Plant and the Water Bottling Facility. The importance of the Water Treatment Plant and the Water Bottling Facility was paramount for the success of Canadian Forces operations in Afghanistan. The bottling facility began operation in June 2004 and has been the sole source of bottled water on camp since December 2004. This alone demanded extra long hours that he fulfilled to a very high standard of professionalism. From the onset, Mr. Hewitt demonstrated a great deal of enthusiasm and initiative that remained constant throughout his employment at Camp Julien. His natural leadership abilities and vast experience clearly benefitted the soldiers and civilians living within Camp Julien.

In conclusion, I am very proud to provide this letter of reference for Mr. Mike Hewitt. I have no doubt that he will provide the same high calibre of service, loyalty, and dedication to your organization as he did for mine.

Walter Semianiw
Colonel
Commander
Task Force Kabul Roto 3