Water Supply and Purification in
Emergencies
Marco Bruni, seecon international gmbh
Water Supply and Purification in Emergencies
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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
Water Supply and Purification in Emergencies
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1. Disasters and Water Supply Systems
Disasters
Pandemics
Storms
Tsunamis
Floods
Earthquakes
Fires
Disasters
Armed
conflicts
Water Supply and Purification in Emergencies
Draughts
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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
Critical determinants for
survival:
Water, Sanitation and
Hygiene
Main health problems
caused by
• Insufficient water
supply and sanitation
• Poor hygiene
• Consumption of
contaminated water
THE SPHERE PROJECT (2011)
GWC (2009)
Water Supply and Purification in Emergencies
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1. Disasters and Water Supply Systems
The Effects of Disasters on Water Supply Systems
Disaster
Consequences:
• Destruction of water supply systems
• Contamination of groundwater and
wells
• Loss of electricity/pumps
• Collapse of water distribution
network
Results:
• Failure of supply
• Consumption of contaminated water
• Serious health problems and
environmental pollution
Water Supply and Purification in Emergencies
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2. Intervention in an Emergency
Managing an Emergency: Building Resilience-Enabling Rehabilitation
Normality
Water Supply and Purification in Emergencies
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2. Intervention in an Emergency
Managing an Emergency: Building Resilience-Enabling Rehabilitation
Disturbance
Normality
Water Supply and Purification in Emergencies
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2. Intervention in an Emergency
Managing an Emergency: Building Resilience-Enabling Rehabilitation
Disturbance
Normality
Rehabilitatio
n
Normality
Objectives
• Save lives
• Ease suffering
• Speed up process of
rehabilitation
Water Supply and Purification in Emergencies
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2. Intervention in an Emergency
Managing an Emergency: Building Resilience-Enabling Rehabilitation
Disturbance
Normality
Rehabilitatio
n
Intervention
Objectives
• Save lives
• Ease suffering
• Speed up process of
rehabilitation
Water Supply and Purification in Emergencies
Normality
General task
Immediate response
However, upgrading the systems in
a long-term perspective has to be
considered already at the
beginning.
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2. Intervention in an Emergency
Managing an Emergency: Building Resilience-Enabling Rehabilitation
Disturbance
Normality
Rehabilitatio
n
Intervention
Objectives
• Save lives
• Ease suffering
• Speed up process of
rehabilitation
Normality
General task
Tasks in relation
to water,
Immediate
response
sanitation
& health
(WASH)
• Provision of safe drinking
However, upgrading of the systems
water
for long-term
water supply has to
• considered
Maintenance
of basic
be
already
at thehygiene
• Reduction of health risks
beginning.
THE SPHERE PROJECT (2011)
Water Supply and Purification in Emergencies
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3. Prioritising in an Emergency
Prioritising as a Key Factor
Protection
of Water
Sources
Water
Quantity
Water
Quality
Water
Distribution
Adapted
from: WHO (n.y.)
Network
Water Supply and Purification in Emergencies
CHALINDER (1994); THE SPHERE PROJECT (2011)
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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)
Water Supply and Purification in Emergencies
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4. Organisation in an Emergency
Assess First – Then React Immediately
Assessment
Water Supply and Purification in Emergencies
Reaction
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4. Organisation in an Emergency
Assessment of Water Supply Systems
Water demand
Quantity
Quality
Water supply
Water
distribution
How many people need
water? How much?

Which surface or
groundwater sources in
the area are affected?
What are the problems
related to water
availability and quality
now and how will the
situation develop?
What is their capacity?
What are the problems
related to water quality
now and how will the
situation develop?
How is the water quality
of these sources?
What are the
possibilities for
treatment if required?
How can this
water be
brought to the
people in
need?
Any existing
leakages
affecting water
quality?
Adapted from: DAVIS & LAMBERT (2002)
Water Supply and Purification in Emergencies
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4. Organisation in an Emergency
Water Demand Assessment
Minimum Standards for Drinking Water Quantity
Survival needs: water
intake
2.5 – 3 litres
Depends on the
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
needs
7.5 – 15 litres per
person per day
Source: THE SPHERE PROJECT (2011)
Water Supply and Purification in Emergencies
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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
and Purification
Camp Water / semicentralised Supply and
Purification
Principles
End-users (households and
communities) are trained to
apply simple multi-barrier
methods based on the HWTS
approach.
After and during an emergency,
a mobile water treatment unit
is brought close to the water
source and installed and
operated by trained staff.
Technologies
Sedimentation, Coagulation,
Disinfection, Boiling, SODIS
Treatment units
Advantages
Low-cost
Ready-to-use, very effective
Disadvantages
High responsibility of end user
Expensive, knowhow for O&M
Water Supply and Purification in Emergencies
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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
Water Supply and Purification in Emergencies
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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
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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)
Water Supply and Purification in Emergencies
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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:
http://zweland.net/photos/var/albums/Chennai%20photos/Water%20supply%20
truck.jpg?m=1290085025 [Accessed: 12.04.2012]
Water Supply and Purification in Emergencies
Source: http://www.akvo.org/blog/wpcontent/uploads/2009/04/p1100042.jpg [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
population and to improve effective
operation and maintenance of the
system in the long run.
Water Supply and Purification in Emergencies
HOUSE & REED (1997)
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
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