South Dakota National Guard 

Public Affairs Office 

2823 West Main St. 

Rapid City, S.D. 57702 

Phone 605-737-6721 

E-mail PAO@sd.ngb.army.mil

June 12, 2008 

SDNG-PA-06-12D-08 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Army Reserve units purify water for Golden Coyote 

By Spc. Joe Bungert, 129th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment 

RAPID CITY, S.D. – Clean water for drinking is essential for humans to survive, and several 

Army Reserve Quartermaster units are providing this precious liquid to the Soldiers, Sailors and 

Airmen participating in this year’s Golden Coyote training exercise. 

The 14th Quartermaster Company of Greensburg, Pa., utilizing two reverse osmosis water 

purification units (ROWPU) capable of treating 3,000 gallons of water an hour, is providing 

purified water to exercise participants for drinking, cooking and bathing. 

“During the exercise, water is drawn from Rapid Creek into the ROWPU where it passes through 

a complex series of filtering media, removing particles and minerals from the water,” said Sgt. 

Paul Gamble of the 14th. 

The purified water is then pumped into a 20,000-gallon holding bag. Once the bag is full, the 

Soldiers of the 971st and 825th Quartermaster Detachments of Rio Grande City, Texas, take 

over. 

“We use a tactical water distribution system capable of pumping water to a series of 20,000-

gallon storage bags, up to five miles from the holding bag at the ROWPU site,” said Sgt. Maria 

Rena of the 971st. 

 

“Every day, we fill up either 400-gallon or 2,000-gallon tankers, which are then transported to 

the forward operating bases for use,” Reyna said. “At this point, we have distributed 

approximately 120,000 gallons, and expect to distribute 250,000 gallons of water during the 

exercise.” 

In order to ensure the water purified for Golden Coyote is safe for consumption, the water 

purification specialists check the chlorine levels as the water comes out of the ROWPU and then 

every hour it is in storage. 

“If the chlorine level is too low or too high, we run the risk of Soldiers getting sick,” said Reyna. 
“We’re not the only people who check the water at Golden Coyote,” said Sgt. Charles Leonard 

of the 14th. “There are preventative medical detachments here that certify the water we produce 

is safe.” 

Gamble said this year’s annual exercise provided the unit with fantastic training. 

“Golden Coyote is giving us the opportunity to produce clean water, and the satisfaction of 

knowing it is being used by the exercise participants,” Gable added. 

-30- 

High resolution photos will be available at the following Web site: 

LINK: https://sdguard.ngb.army.mil/sites/GC2008/default.aspx

Photo Cut Lines: 

080607A-5356B-002.JPG: Water used by Soldiers in this year’s Golden Coyote exercise is 

purified by the 14th Quartermaster Company, an Army Reserve unit of Greensburg, Pa., in a 

reverse osmosis water purification unit Saturday, June 7, and stored in a 20,000 gallon bag prior 

to distribution. (Army National Guard photo by Spc. Joe Bungert) (RELEASED) 

080607A-5356B-010.JPG: Spc. Daniel Luna of the 971st Quartermaster Detachment (Tactical 

Water Distribution System) from Rio Grande City, Texas, draws water to check chlorine levels 

Saturday, June 7, during this year’s Golden Coyote exercise in the Black Hills, S.D. (Army 

National Guard photo by Spc. Joe Bungert) (RELEASED) 

080607A-5356B-016.JPG: Spc. Daniel Luna (left) and Sgt. Maria Reyna (right) with the 971st 

Quartermaster Detachment (Tactical Water Distribution System), of Rio Grande City, Texas, 

check chlorine levels of purified water Saturday, June 7, during this year’s Golden Coyote 

exercise in the Black Hills, S.D. (Army National Guard photo by Spc. Joe Bungert) 

(RELEASED) 

080607A-5356B-018.JPG: Sgt. Maria Reyna from Alamo, Texas, and Spc. Daniel Luna from 

Rio Grande City, Texas, both with the 971st Quartermaster Detachment (Tactical Water 

Distribution System), check chlorine levels in purified water Saturday, June 7, during this year’s 

Golden Coyote exercise in the Black Hills, S.D. (Army National Guard photo by Spc. Joe 

Bungert) (RELEASED)

Location of South Dakota National Guard Public Affairs Office: 

2823 West Main Street 

Building 400 

Rapid City, SD 57702-8186 

(605) 737-6721 
MEDIA WISHING TO EMBED are asked to RSVP with Maj. Orson Ward at (605) 737-

6721, cell (605) 431-8753 or via E-mail at orson.ward@us.army.mil. 

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION about the South Dakota National Guard, please visit our 

Web site at https://sdguard.ngb.army.mil/default.aspx

NOTE: The South Dakota National Guard will host the annual Golden Coyote exercise from 

June 7 – 21 in the southern Black Hills. More than 4,000 service members from 92 units 

representing 27 states and four foreign nations are participating in the exercise. The Golden 

Coyote exercise has been conducted for the past 24 years. The exercise provides relevant training 

opportunities in support of the war on terror and homeland defense. 

Residents should be aware of an increase in military traffic throughout the Black Hills and an 

increase in the level of noise due to military operations. Aviation activity will be operating out of 

Camp Rapid and the Army Aviation Support Facility next to the Rapid City Regional Airport. 

Aircraft will be primarily training on equipment and personnel transport missions as well as 

medical evacuation. Aircraft will respond to real-world emergencies during the exercise and 

remain in an all-hours-ready status during the exercise. 

Spectators to military training are welcome, however caution is warranted and spectators are 

asked to remain at a safe distance from all moving military vehicles and aircraft to prevent injury 

to personnel or damage to property.