Supervising Decontamination Operations of a ROWPU. You are to ensure that ROWPU equipment that has been
contaminated with NBC agents is decontaminated to prevent the water point operator from becoming contaminated and to
prevent contaminants from getting into product water being produced. In line with these two objectives, the external surfaces
of the ROWPU must be decontaminated. Upon occasion, the internal water circuits must be decontaminated too. You will
need to implement the following protective measures if the use of chemical or biological agents or nuclear weapons is
expected:
Secure covers and caps on all open water tanks and bags.
Close doors and other openings on water purification units.
Close manhole covers, spigot box covers, and pumping compartment doors on water trailers and water tank trucks.
Place protective tarpaulins over water purification units, distribution equipment, and water containers.
Move small portable water containers, such as FAWPSS and water cans, under shelter or into enclosed vehicles.
The following procedures are to be used when your water point is isolated from a NBC defense company or detachment that
is responsible for organized decontamination of equipment and personnel.
To decontaminate ROWPU equipment externally, you will direct your
Supervising External Decontamination.
personnel to first use a simple, clean water wash down procedure. Usually this will do the job. The nerve agent GB, for
instance, is soluble in water in all proportions and is readily washed away. If a simple wash down procedure is not
completely successful, resort to the use of decontaminants. This applies especially to cases of CW contamination. In the case
of BW agent contamination, you can use fumigants such as EYO or carboxide. Water purification personnel work with an
effective chemical and biological-agent decontaminate called calcium hypochlorite.
You can use this chemical for
decontamination of equipment surfaces by following the preparation and use procedures described below:
Preparation: Have your personnel dig a soakage pit or construct a sump into which you will discharge the
decontamination waste and rinse water. Personnel must wear personal protective equipment and prepare a 3% solution of
chlorine by adding 3 canteen cups of calcium hypochlorite to 6 gallons of water.
Use: Apply the solution to the exterior of the equipment or container using brushes or brooms. One gallon of the solution
should cover 8 square yards. The decontamination solution must remain in contact with the surface for at least 30
minutes. Reapply occasionally to keep the surface wet. After 30 minutes, thoroughly wash the surface with water.
Supervising Internal Decontamination. The following information describes how to decontaminate the internal water
circuits of the ROWPU equipment. The three basic contaminants, NW, BW, and CW will be considered in turn.
Nuclear decontamination of a ROWPU involves two types of decontamination. Gross decontamination relies upon
quick, reasonably effective methods that can be applied in the field to remove the bulk of the contamination. Detailed
decontamination, in contrast, relies upon a lengthy, thorough process carried out in a
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