Water Supply and Purification in

Emergencies
Marco Bruni, seecon international gmbh

Water Supply and Purification in Emergencies 1

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Water Supply and Purification in Emergencies

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Contents

1. Disasters and Water Supply Systems

2. Intervention in an Emergency
3. Prioritising in an Emergency
4. Organisation in an Emergency
5. Approaches to Water Purification in Emergencies
6. International Emergency Response in WASH
7. References

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1. Disasters and Water Supply Systems

Disasters
Pandemic
s
Storms
Tsunamis

Floods
Earthquakes

Disasters
Fires
Draughts
Armed
conflicts

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1. Disasters and Water Supply Systems

The Effects of Disasters on Civil Society

Health
of survivors
is exposed to high
risks
Disaster Main health problems
caused by
Insufficient water supply
and sanitation
Poor hygiene
Critical determinants for
survival: Consumption of
Water, Sanitation and contaminated water
THE SPHERE PROJECT (2011)
Hygiene
GWC (2009)

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1. Disasters and Water Supply Systems

The Effects of Disasters on Water Supply Systems

Consequences:
Destruction of water supply systems
Contamination of groundwater and
wells
Loss of electricity/pumps
Disaster Collapse of water distribution network

Results:
Failure of supply
Consumption of contaminated water
Serious health problems and
environmental pollution

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2. Intervention in an Emergency
Managing an Emergency: Building Resilience-Enabling Rehabilitation

Normality

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2. Intervention in an Emergency
Managing an Emergency: Building Resilience-Enabling Rehabilitation

Disturbance

Normality

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2. Intervention in an Emergency
Managing an Emergency: Building Resilience-Enabling Rehabilitation

Disturbance

Rehabilitatio
n
Normality Normality

Objectives
Save lives
Ease suffering
Speed up process of
rehabilitation

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2. Intervention in an Emergency
Managing an Emergency: Building Resilience-Enabling Rehabilitation

Disturbance

Rehabilitatio
n
Normality Normality

Intervention General task

Immediate response
Objectives
Save lives However, upgrading the systems in
Ease suffering a long-term perspective has to be
Speed up process of considered already at the
rehabilitation beginning.

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2. Intervention in an Emergency
Managing an Emergency: Building Resilience-Enabling Rehabilitation

Disturbance

Rehabilitatio
n
Normality Normality

Intervention General task

Tasks in relation to water,
sanitationImmediate
& health response
(WASH)
Objectives
Save lives Provision of safe drinking water
However, upgrading of the systems
Ease suffering Maintenance
for of basic
long-term water supplyhygiene
has to
Speed up process of be consideredofalready
Reduction healthatrisks
the
rehabilitation beginning.
THE SPHERE PROJECT (2011)

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3. Prioritising in an Emergency
Prioritising as a Key Factor

Step Step Step Step

1
Protection
2 3 4
of Water
Sources
Water
Quantity
Water
Quality
Water
Distribution
Network
Adapted from: WHO (n.y.)

Water Supply and Purification in Emergencies CHALINDER (1994); THE SPHERE PROJECT (2011)
12
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3. Prioritising in an Emergency
General Objectives of Emergency Water Supply and Purification

Protection of water sources (1) in order to minimise the risk of

contamination and transmission of water borne diseases (immediate
objective);
Provision of water of a reasonable quantity (2) (immediate
objective);
Improvement of the physical and biological quality (3) of the
water (medium-term objective);
Improvement of access to supplies through improved water
distribution networks (4) and storage facilities (medium-term
objective). CHALINDER (1994); THE SPHERE PROJECT (2011)

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4. Organisation in an Emergency
Assess First Then React Immediately

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4. Organisation in an Emergency
Assessment of Water Supply Systems

Adapted from: DAVIS & LAMBERT (2002)

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4. Organisation in an Emergency
Water Demand Assessment

Minimum Standards for Drinking Water Quantity

Survival needs: water 2.5 3 litres Depends on the

intake climate and individual
physiology
Basic hygiene practices 2 6 litres Depends on social and
cultural norms

Basic cooking needs 3 6 litres Depends on food type

and social and cultural
norms
Total basic water 7.5 15 litres per
needs person per day
Source: THE SPHERE PROJECT (2011)

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5. Approaches to Water Purification in Emergencies

Point-of-use versus Camp Water Supply and Purification Systems

A B
Point-of-use Water Supply Camp Water / semi-
and Purification centralised Supply and
Purification
Principles End-users (households and After and during an emergency,
communities) are trained to a mobile water treatment unit
apply simple multi-barrier is brought close to the water
methods based on the HWTS source and installed and
approach. operated by trained staff.
Technologies Sedimentation, Coagulation, Treatment units
Disinfection, Boiling, SODIS
Advantages Low-cost Ready-to-use, very effective
Disadvantages High responsibility of end user Expensive, knowhow for O&M

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5. Approaches to Water Purification in Emergencies

Point-of-use (POU) Water Supply and Purification Systems A
Examples for POU water treatment methods:

Sedimentation

Coagulation

Disinfection

Boiling

SODIS

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5. Approaches to Water Purification in Emergencies

Camp Water Supply and Purification Systems B
On the left: Emergency water treatment units filtrate (membrane filtration)
and disinfect (ultraviolet light) surface water to produce large amounts of
clear potable water regardless of its turbidity.

Source: Left: PWN TECHNOLOGIES (2011). Right: AQUAFIDER (2011)

On the right: Self-disinfecting Katadyn Filter elements also have a high

performance. They work with a micro porous ceramic filter with silver
incorporated in the ceramic structure.
Water Supply and Purification in Emergencies 19
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5. Approaches to Water Purification in Emergencies

Key Factors for the Selection of the Optimal Treatment Process

The concrete measures to be

taken after a disaster depend
on the answers to the
assessment questions, the
geographical and climatic
context, the reason for
people being without water
and the type of target groups.
HOUSE & REED (1997)

Source: HOUSE & REED (1997)

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5. Approaches to Water Purification in Emergencies

Just Providing Infrastructure is not enough

Establishing an emergency water supply system is not only about

providing physical infrastructure but also about awareness raising and
capacity building (hygiene education).

Source: Source: http://www.akvo.org/blog/wp-

http://zweland.net/photos/var/albums/Chennai%20photos/Water%20supply%20 content/uploads/2009/04/p1100042.jpg [Accessed: 12.04.2012]
truck.jpg?m=1290085025 [Accessed: 12.04.2012]

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6. International Emergency Responses in WASH

Water, Sanitation and Health (WASH)

Organisations (e.g. Governments, NGOs, etc.) have different

strategies for humanitarian intervention:
Provision of equipment to ensure immediate response without
thorough assessment. E.g. modular kits pumps, treatment units,
water tanks and distribution systems.
Provision of modular mobile treatment
units to treat either surface or
groundwater from a nearby source in the
short run.
Usage of locally available materials,
methods and skills to benefit the local
HOUSE & REED (1997)

population and to improve effective

operation and maintenance of the
system in the long run. Source: SWEDISH RED CROSS (2008)

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7. References
AQUAFIDES (Editor) (2011): Katadyn Mobile Filter Unit MOT. Dietlikon: Aquafides Schweiz AG.
http://katadynch.vs31.snowflakehosting.ch/fileadmin/user_upload/katadynmilitarycom/Downloads/Mobile_Filter_Unit_MOT_EN.
pdf [Accessed: 17.04.2012].

CHALINDER, A. (1994): Water and Sanitation in Emergencies. Good Practice . London: Overseas Development Institute. URL:
http://sheltercentre.org/sites/default/files/WatSan%20in%20Emergencies%20%28Chalinder%29.pdf [Accessed: 20.03.2012].

DAVIS, J.; LAMBERT, R. (2002): Engineering in Emergencies. A Practical Guide for Relief Workers. London: Intermediate
Technology Publications, Ltd.

GWC (Editor) (2009): The Human Right to Water and Sanitation in Emergency Situations. The Legal Framework and a Guide to
Advocacy. New York: Global WASH Cluster (GWC), Unicef. URL:
http://redhum.org/archivos_cluster/pdf/ID_351_UW_Redhum_Global_Manual_Human_Rights_to_Water_and_Sanitation_in_Emerg
ency_Situation_2009.pdf [Accessed: 20.03.1012].

HOUSE, S.; REED, B. (1997): Emergency Water Sources. Guidelines for Selection and Treatment. Loughborough: Water,
Engineering and Development Centre (WEDC). URL:
http://sheltercentre.org/sites/default/files/Emergency%20Water%20Sources%20%28WEDC%29.pdf [Accessed: 20.03.2012].

PWN TECHNOLOGIES (Editor) (2011): Emergency Water Unit.

http://www.pwntechnologies.nl/resources/factsheets/pdf/Perfector-E%20-%20Emergency%20water%20unit.pdf [Accessed:
17.04.2012].

SWEDISH RED CROSS (Editor) (2008): Slide show of Swedish Red Cross water and sanitation module 4O ERU deployed in
Philippines. Stockholm: Swedish Red Cross. URL: http://www.ifrc.org/Global/sw-watsan-eru-philippines0808.pdf [Accessed:
20.03.2012].

THE SPHERE PROJECT (Editor) (2011): Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Humanitarian Response. Bourton on
Dunsmore: Practical Action Publishing. URL:
http://www.sphereproject.org/component/option,com_docman/task,cat_view/gid,17/Itemid,203/lang,English/ [Accessed:
17.10.2011].

Water Supply and Purification in Emergencies 23

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