Determining Specific Water Support Requirements for Other Services, Allied Forces,
or Host-Nation Labor Forces. Water is a critical support item for the soldier. The water support
mission is to get water to individual fighting positions. Each service (Air Force, Marines, and Navy) provides
water support to its force. When other services exceed their capabilities, the Army provides backup water
support. The supported service must then provide Army planners with detailed water requirements. When
the Army is not the main service, that service determined by the joint commander to be the main service
provides such support.
The host nation must provide for the needs of its labor forces unless otherwise provided in HNS
agreements. In the absence of an agreement, United States forces may have to assume some responsibility
for the care of labor forces.
Article 55 of the Geneva Convention states that the host country, as the territorial sovereign, is
responsible for refugees on its territory. In the event its resources are strained by an influx of refugees, the
host country may request assistance from United States forces. United States forces would have a legal
responsibility to provide refugee care where they have occupied enemy territory and have established a
military government. This would include providing food supplies and water to the population, if the resources
of the occupied territory were inadequate.
Determining Ability of Host Nation to Assist in Meeting Water Distribution/Storage
Requirements. Since the capability of Army divisions and other services to produce their own
requirements will be difficult to predict, logistics planners must provide a force structure adequate to purify,
store, and distribute the daily requirement for the force. Logistics planners should develop contingency plans
with host nations for identifying and determining the availability of water resources for use by United States
forces. Existing HNS communication channels should be used to determine the ability of the host nation to
assist in meeting water requirements.
Whenever possible, use host nation water sources, facilities, and equipment. However, in both
developed and undeveloped theaters, water planners must be aware of the following:
Article 54 of the Geneva Convention "prohibits attacking, destroying, or rendering useless drinking water
installations and supplies and irrigation works. In no event shall actions against these objects be taken
which may be expected to leave the civilian population with such inadequate food or water as to cause
its starvation or force its movements."
Article 26 of the Geneva Convention requires the United States to provide humane treatment to POWs
in its custody. This includes providing sufficient daily food rations and enough drinking water. Army
military police have organic water trailers and will pick up water for EPWs from the QM supply company
providing area support.
Planners should assume no host nation water is available in arid regions. Minimal water sources and
poor water quality will limit any operation that depends on HNS. In the early days of deployment, host
nation processed or bottled water may be used if certified as potable by preventive medicine personnel.
Use of host nation municipal or private fixed facilities is dependent on the above stipulations and local
policies as directed by the theater commander.
PART B - MANAGING RECEIPT AND PROCESSING OF REQUIREMENTS
FOR WATER SUPPLIES FROM SUPPORTED UNITS
Division-Level Water Management. The DISCOM plans, directs, and supervises the division's
water purification and water distribution support. The DISCOM commander guides the DMMC in the
handling of water functions for the division. Based on this guidance, the DMMC prepares, reviews, and
approves detailed plans and policies on water functions. These functions include the operating of water
production and distribution points.
The DMMC manages receipt and processing of requirements for water supplies from supporting units. It
also gives direction and mode of delivery for the issue of water supplies to divisional units. The general
supply section of the DMMC consists of the Class I supply branch, Class III supply branch, and Classes II
and IV supply branch. The Class I supply branch provides centralized command supply management,
supply data, and information on division water supply support operations in temperate, tropical, and arctic
areas. The Class III supply branch provides this management function in arid areas. It maintains water
supply status and monitors water allocations and division priorities for water resources. It ensures that
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