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Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., charged Monday that the Pentagon failed to stop contractor KBR Inc., from supplying unsafe water to U.S. troops in Iraq and that an Army general last year misled senators about the problem. "I would have thought the Pentagon would have been furious and have taken immediate action," Dorgan said Monday. "Now we know that is not case."

A March 7 report by the Defense Department inspector general, released Monday by Dorgan, says that the former subsidiary of Halliburton Co. did not follow Army standards for maintaining water at three of four bases inspected by the IG: Camp Ar Ramadi, Camp Q-West and Camp Victor. KBR used chlorinated wastewater in troop showers, according to the report. KBR corrected some problems by November 2006, the report says, but quality-control problems persisted at two sites. "Water suppliers exposed U.S. forces to unmonitored and potentially unsafe water," the report says. The water involved was used for cleaning, not drinking. The report says there is no way to tell if contaminated water caused disease but notes some soldiers who used the unmonitored water experienced skin infections, diarrhea and other illnesses.

Dorgan requested the report after whistleblowers, including KBR employees, disclosed problems with water quality and troops complained about discolored, odorous water. Allegations surfaced at a 2006 hearing held by the Senate Democratic Policy Committee. Dorgan charged the Army has continued to rely on assurances from KBR that there was no problem. "All the Army had to do was talk to the troops -- which is what the inspector general eventually did," Dorgan said. "No one seemed to give a damn," he added. Dorgan said the IG's report states that the IG informed the Army of many of its findings on March 31. But at an April 19 Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, Maj. Gen. Jerome Johnson, head of the U.S. Army Sustainment Command, said in response to questions about the water at Camp Ar Ramadi that there was no issue with it and he did not know of problems elsewhere.

Dorgan said he is writing Defense Secretary Robert Gates to ask why the Pentagon did not respond more aggressively to problems cited by the IG. The issue will be raised in upcoming Senate Appropriations Committee hearings on contracting in Iraq, Dorgan said. In a statement, Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin, D-Mich., said if the military continues to rely on contractors, "we are going to have to do a much better job supervising their activities."

A Pentagon spokesman said he could not comment on Johnson's testimony and said Dorgan's criticism of the Army and Pentagon is not supported by the IG report. "I don't think anything that supports that is in this audit report," he said, noting the report states corrective actions were taken. KBR said its water treatment "has met or exceeded all applicable military and contract standards," and disagreed with many of IG's findings, according to the Associated Press.

COMMENTS

• I was a Q.A. in one of the camps. We had three wells that were used for sanitary water, whshing and showers. There was a ceptic less than 100 yards from the well head. The water was contaminated. There was hand sanitizer every where, DEFAC, offices MWRs everywhere. We did not drink that water. The Local Nationals did. We drank bottled water, any kind of soda you wanted any kind of juice and near beer. Sanitary under normal conditions just dosen't exsist. Before we got the wells, shower and shaves and toilets installed. We got water from a buffalo, we washed our hair, body and shaved with the cold water at the buffalo. A few had solar showers and different items sent from home. The men could go to the FOB every 30 days for a day or two for showers and what have you. The women usally went every 7 days. If anyone ever grumbled I never herd it. After 45 or 50 days we got hot showers with the sanitary water from the well. We have some of the best people in the world over there. They deserve the best. But the conditions are not perfect in that part of the world. Things are getting better but there is a long way to go. KBR is the best and worst contractor over there. Thats just the way it is. mml Posted March 16, 2008 5:50 AM
• I recall when salt water showers were common in the fleet. How sanitary is sea water? Water water every where and not a drop to drink. In the desert I believe water is rather scarce. If the military is the same as when I served it is doubtfull the officers suffer the same hardships. The Officer Corps can take the contractors to task if they are willing to put their commision on the line. Sometimes it works but mostly it does not. For as long as there has been war bureaucrats have taken kickbacks and industrialist have made fortunes. The solders just eat rhe wormy rations and prayed the would return in one piece to there mothers. The answer to all these problems would receive more attention if every declaration of war included impressment without waiver. The rulers then would have to risk their offspring and a more sober accounting would prevail. XSwabby Posted March 11, 2008 5:54 PM
• Before you vent because of some Congress critters press release you ought to read the source material. The IG is complaining that there were not enough inspectors assigned and enough records kept to satisfy them. Not that the water was unsafe. They have no evidence of that. This applies to both the organic army units and to KBR. When dealing with the IG, their preferred mode of operation is that you are guilty unless you can provide them with enough documentary evidence to the contrary and they are the sole judge of the evidence. Scott D McLennan Posted March 11, 2008 11:32 AM