Risking life to get fresh water to troops – CONTACT magazine

Report on Water Purification Operations during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025

Executive Summary

This report details the deployment of a Water Purification and Desalination System (WPDS) by the Australian Army’s 1st Combat Engineer Regiment during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025 in the Northern Territory. The operation highlights a critical military capability that directly supports several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), primarily SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being). The system’s application in both military exercises and potential humanitarian aid scenarios underscores its importance in promoting resilience and sustainability.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

The core of the operation is the provision of safe and accessible water, a fundamental objective of SDG 6. The 1st Combat Engineer Regiment’s deployment at the Bradshaw boat ramp on the Victoria River demonstrates a robust capability to establish water security in remote and challenging environments.

System Capabilities and Output

• Technology Deployed: Water Purification and Desalination System (WPDS).
• Freshwater Purification Capacity: Up to 400,000 litres per day.
• Saltwater Desalination Capacity: Up to 100,000 litres per day, utilising reverse osmosis.
• Storage Solution: Four 7,500-litre ‘onion’ tanks, providing a total storage capacity of up to 60,000 litres.
• Operational Demand: A single combat team requires approximately 15,000 litres of potable water daily, a demand the system can comfortably meet and scale.

Contribution to SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

Ensuring the health of personnel is paramount and directly aligns with SDG 3. The purification process is meticulously managed to eliminate waterborne pathogens and guarantee the potability of the water supply.

Quality Assurance and Health Protocols

1. Purification Process: Chlorine is added to sterilise the water after extraction from the source.
2. Health and Safety Oversight: Environmental Health Officers play a crucial role by conducting rigorous 24 to 48-hour bacteria tests before clearing the water for consumption.
3. Distribution Management: Chlorine levels are managed throughout the distribution chain—from storage tanks to individual water bottles—to ensure the water remains sterile at the point of consumption without adversely affecting taste.

Broader Implications for Global Sustainability and Resilience

The WPDS capability extends beyond military applications, possessing significant potential for civilian support, thereby contributing to a wider range of SDGs.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

The Resource Section, comprised of combat engineers, is trained to deploy this system for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) scenarios. This capability can provide critical life support to communities affected by natural disasters, enhancing community resilience by restoring access to clean water.

SDG 15: Life on Land & SDG 14: Life Below Water

Operations are conducted with an awareness of the local ecosystem. The extraction of water from the crocodile-inhabited Victoria River necessitates strict safety and environmental protocols, reflecting responsible management of water resources in sensitive ecological zones.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

The deployment showcases the capacity of a state institution—the military—to provide essential services that underpin stability and security. This function is vital not only for military effectiveness but also as a component of national disaster response infrastructure.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article primarily addresses issues related to two Sustainable Development Goals:

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation – This is the most direct and central SDG. The entire article focuses on the process of securing, purifying, and providing clean, potable water for troops in a remote location. It details the technology and procedures used to make contaminated water safe for drinking.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure – This goal is relevant because the article describes a specific piece of technology, the Water Purification and Desalination System (WPDS), as a “robust and adaptable setup.” This system represents an innovative and resilient piece of infrastructure designed to operate in challenging environments and support human well-being, especially in humanitarian contexts mentioned in the text.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the article’s content, the following specific targets can be identified:

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

• Target 6.1: By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all. The article describes the deployment of a system specifically to provide “readily available potable water” to a population (soldiers). The mention of its use in “humanitarian assistance and disaster relief scenarios” directly connects this capability to providing safe drinking water to vulnerable populations in emergencies, aligning with the goal of universal access.
• Target 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution… The core function of the WPDS is to improve water quality. The article details how water from the Victoria River is treated through purification, desalination (reverse osmosis), and sterilization with chlorine to make it safe for consumption, directly addressing this target.
• Target 6.a: By 2030, expand international cooperation and capacity-building support to developing countries in water- and sanitation-related activities and programmes, including water harvesting, desalination, water efficiency… The article highlights the use of advanced desalination technology. While the context is a military exercise, the stated application in “humanitarian assistance and disaster relief” implies a capacity-building function where this technology can be deployed to support communities in need, which is the essence of this target.

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

• Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure… to support economic development and human well-being… The WPDS is described as a “robust and adaptable setup” capable of functioning in remote and harsh environments like the Northern Territory. This makes it a piece of resilient infrastructure. Its purpose is to provide water, a fundamental requirement for “human well-being,” especially in disaster relief scenarios.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article contains several quantitative and qualitative indicators that can be used to measure progress.

Indicators for SDG 6 Targets

• Indicator for Target 6.1 (Access to safe water): The article provides specific data on the volume of water being supplied. This serves as a direct measure of the service provided.
  • Purification capacity from freshwater sources: “up to 400,000 litres a day.”
  • Purification capacity from saltwater sources: “100,000 litres” per day.
  • Daily water requirement for a combat team: “15,000 litres of potable water per day.”
  • Storage capacity: “up to 60,000 litres” using large 7500-litre ‘onion’ tanks.
• Indicator for Target 6.3 (Improve water quality): The article implies indicators related to the quality of the treated water.
  • The process of adding chlorine to “sterilise the water.”
  • The mandatory safety check performed by “Environmental health officers” which includes a “24 to 48-hour bacteria test before the water is cleared for use.” This test is a direct indicator of whether the water meets safety standards.

Indicators for SDG 9 Targets

• Indicator for Target 9.1 (Resilient infrastructure): The article provides qualitative descriptions of the infrastructure’s resilience and adaptability.
  • The system is described as a “robust and adaptable setup.”
  • Its ability to process both freshwater and saltwater demonstrates its adaptability to different environmental conditions.
  • Its deployment in “remote Bradshaw Field Training area” indicates its reliability in challenging locations.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: contactairlandandsea.com