Operation Aqua Vita, Florence: the Dutch contribution
The international community, including the Netherlands, launched a major rescue action almost immediately. At the request of the Netherlands Red Cross, the Ministry of Defence sent troops to supply the residents of the affected area with clean drinking water.
Water purification
On 6 November 1966, 101 Engineer combat group in Wezep was ordered to assemble a water purification detachment. 4 water purification platoons were set up, with personnel from 11 Engineer battalion, the Disaster Relief Corps (KMC), 462 Pontoneer battalion and the Engineer Training Centre (GOC).
Detachment augmented
The detachment was augmented by a maintenance group, a signal group, a mess group, a medical group and a transport group with dump trucks. All 140 men of the rescue operation Aqua Vita (Water of Life) were under the command of Captain F.W.M. Sedee.
Deployment
The detachment left for Florence from Ypenburg air field on Saturday 12 November. They found accommodation in Pistoia, 35 kilometres northwest of Florence. The Dutch then deployed in Florence, on both sides of the Arno river near Ponte S. Nicolo and the world-famous Ponte Vecchio. The personnel from the GOC and 462 Pontoneer battalion started water purification north of the Arno at Piazza Paive.
The KMC personnel began on the south bank of the river at Piazza Giuseppe Poggi. Personnel from 11 and 107 Engineer battalions also started purifying the water from the Terzolle stream at Piazza Dalmattia and Via Stefano in Pano on Tuesday 15 November.
9 million litres of fresh drinking water
Within 3 weeks, Dutch military personnel in Florence managed to produce a total of 9 million litres of fresh drinking water for the civilian population. The detachment returned home in 3 RNLAF F-27s on Friday 9 and Saturday 10 December.