INTRODUCTION
In order to supervise water storage and distribution operations, senior noncommissioned officers should have
a good understanding of the capability of the equipment in a water support mission. In the integrated
battlefield, equipment must be set up quickly in one location and moved readily to another location without
serious interruption of service.
PART A PREPARING, REVIEWING, AND APPROVING DETAILED WATER
DISTRIBUTION/STORAGE PLANS
Water Distribution/Storage Planning. Water supply is provided on an area basis by QM CSS units
using supply point distribution. CSS units will maintain and operate a potable-only water supply system.
Although not all water required in a TO has to be potable, a potable-only system minimizes health hazards
and is more efficient. An exception to this is that a water point NCOIC may commit collapsible tanks to raw
water storage. This allows water points to continue water supply operations when faced with decreased well
production, water source limits imposed by the host nation or to meet peak demand requirements.
The light infantry battalions and companies do not have enough vehicles to use a supply point
distribution of water. QM water purification personnel will provide unit deliveries to the LIB combat trains
using the FAWPSS. The water is delivered to the combat trains and transferred to 160-gallon lightweight
collapsible pillow tanks. It is then taken to the battalion distribution point and put into 5-gallon cans and 5-
quart collapsible water carriers. These containers will then be transported to the company and platoon
locations by the organic HMMWVs of the LIB during routine resupply operations. The water will normally be
taken forward as part of the LOGPAC. It may be necessary to make additional resupply trips when water
consumption increases. When the water is delivered to the company and platoon locations, the soldiers will
fill their canteens from the 160-gallon pillow tanks. Squad members may pick up water for their squads using
the 5-quart collapsible water carriers. This unit distribution of water is provided ONLY to the LIB. All other
elements in the light infantry division will use supply point distribution.
Receiving Command Guidance on Mission. The key to a successful water support mission is
innovative and flexible planning. Before any planning begins receive the commander's guidance for mission
requirements. Forces are structured so that there is enough water production and distribution to meet
requirements. The buildup of theater forces must be scheduled so that water support and preventive
medicine units arrive on time to ensure adequate and continuous water support.
All levels of command must be concerned with water quality. Preventive medicine personnel approve
water supplies and provide routine surveillance to ensure that water quality meets appropriate standards.
Water purification equipment operators analyze both untreated and treated water to ensure purification
equipment is operating properly. They ensure that the treated water meets applicable standards. Unit
sanitation teams must ensure that water supplies are maintained according to health standards.
Developing Detailed DS/GS Water Distribution/Storage Plan. The force structure for water
support in a TO divides water support into DS and GS levels. DS capabilities are sufficient to meet
requirements in temperate, tropical, and arctic regions. However, in arid regions where sufficient water
sources are not available, GS water systems are established. DS is provided to both nondivisional and
divisional units.
When planning for water support, it is essential that you know where water equipment is located.
Understanding equipment capabilities and unit TOEs is also an important element in planning water support
missions. Nondivisional water support is provided on an area basis by corps and EAC Quartermaster supply
companies (Figure 1-1) operating ROWPUs. The organic water supply section of the company provides
water purification and storage at water supply points using approved water sources. By using the SMFT, the
section can deliver water to major users unable to support themselves. In addition, the SMFTs may be used
to establish dry water point distribution sites. The nondivisional DS water section of the QM supply company
has four 3,000-GPH ROWPUs, forty 3,000-gallon onion tanks (120,000 gallons), four 3,000-gallon SMFTs
(12,000) gallons), and four FAWPSSs (12,000 gallons). With this equipment, it can establish four water
purification points that can each produce 60,000 GPD of potable water from freshwater or 40,000 GPD of
potable water from saltwater. It can produce a total of 240,000 GPD using a freshwater source and 160,000
GPD using saltwater. In addition, each water point can store 30,000 gallons of potable water using the ten
1-2
QM 4924
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