2007年VOA标准英语-Irbil Water Treatment Plant a Model for the Reg

By Brian Padden
Irbil, Iraq
27 September 2007
 

Recent outbreaks of cholera¹ in parts of Iraq highlight the need for basic services like clean water. Development projects in much of the country have been delayed because of the deteriorating² security situation there. But in the relatively³ safe Kurdish north, a U.S. development official points to new progress. VOA's Brian Padden reports how the city of Irbil 's new water treatment plant is the solution for the growing demand for potable water.

Located on the banks of the Zab River in Northern Iraq, the Ifraz water treatment plant now produces clean drinking water for more than half a million people in the Kurdish city of Irbil.  Gary York with the U.S. Army Corps⁴ of Engineers says this facility is one of the largest Iraq reconstruction⁵ projects funded primarily by American aid. 

"The Ifraz was, I believe the second largest (dollar-wise) construction project in the country, coming in right around the $191 million mark," said York.

Like similar treatment plants around the world, various filters here remove solid waste, and chemicals like chlorine disinfect the water. "By World Health standards this water has to be five parts per million," said York. "As you can see we are coming out not even one part per million."

The facility produces 6,000 cubic meters of clean water an hour and pumps it to the city, 32 kilometers away. 

Initially⁶ the water pressure produced by Ifraz caused leaks in many of the city's existing water mains.   

Those neighborhoods not connected to Ifraz still rely on deep wells owned by the city.  Mashood Omar operates a well that serves about 1,000 homes. He says there is no testing for water quality, and service is sporadic⁷.  "There are three pipes, and we open one pipe per day," he said.

A U.S. development official credits the relative peace and security of the region for the success of the treatment plant in Irbil.

If the insurgency⁸ would ease, he says, this could be a solution for other parts of Iraq.

1 cholera   

n.霍乱

参考例句：

• The cholera outbreak has been contained.霍乱的发生已被控制住了。
• Cholera spread like wildfire through the camps.霍乱在营地里迅速传播。

2 deteriorating   

恶化，变坏( deteriorate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The weather conditions are deteriorating. 天气变得越来越糟。
• I was well aware of the bad morale and the deteriorating factories. 我很清楚，大家情绪低落，各个工厂越搞越坏。

3 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

4 corps   

n.(通信等兵种的)部队；(同类作的)一组

参考例句：

• The medical corps were cited for bravery in combat.医疗队由于在战场上的英勇表现而受嘉奖。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

5 reconstruction   

n.重建，再现，复原

参考例句：

• The country faces a huge task of national reconstruction following the war.战后，该国面临着重建家园的艰巨任务。
• In the period of reconstruction,technique decides everything.在重建时期，技术决定一切。

6 initially   

adv.最初，开始

参考例句：

• The ban was initially opposed by the US.这一禁令首先遭到美国的反对。
• Feathers initially developed from insect scales.羽毛最初由昆虫的翅瓣演化而来。

7 sporadic   

adj.偶尔发生的 [反]regular；分散的

参考例句：

• The sound of sporadic shooting could still be heard.仍能听见零星的枪声。
• You know this better than I.I received only sporadic news about it.你们比我更清楚，而我听到的只是零星消息。

8 insurgency   

n.起义；暴动；叛变

参考例句：

• And as in China, unrest and even insurgency are widespread. 而在中国，动乱甚至暴乱都普遍存在。 来自互联网
• Dr Zyphur is part an insurgency against this idea. 塞弗博士是这一观点逆流的一部分。 来自互联网