Yup, it's happening all over again.
And yes, it makes sense. 30-some towns and cities' worth of people need drinking water, and no one is standing "at the ready" with both: a) the logistical capability to quickly supply it, and b) the ability to direct hundreds of people to spring into action at a moment's notice. The Massachusetts National Guard is being tapped for the appropriately named Operation BROKEN PIPE.
I think the real key here is part b. There are probably private companies that have impressive logistical capability, but they can't exactly scramble all their people together at 11 p.m. on a Saturday night and have them all ready to go by 5:00 a.m. Sunday.
True to the nature of the dual mission, I got to spend all day Saturday doing MOUT (Military Operations in Urban Terrain) in a mock Afghan town, trying to differentiate good guys from bad guys and being friendly while on constant guard for threat. The late afternoon and evening was staff weenie stuff (MDMP, or the Military Decision Making Process), looking at a Brigade-level OPORDER, and then right at 2300 came the word that State Active Duty (SAD) was coming, and that all our guys would be standing by in their armories to await tasking this morning by 0500.
So it's back from Bourne to Reading, and standing by for further direction.
Yes, doing pipeline rehabilitation means one big cooperation from the citizens as well. For example, last year, we did a FRP reinforced concrete alignment. Without the people's cooperation of making it on time to leave the establishment for us to work, maybe, the springing and fountain-like leak might had "rainshowered" them. I agree to all your ingenious thoughts.
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