A MOBILE water treatment plant was dispatched and made operational by DOH Davao in Davao Oriental on Tuesday. This forms part of the earthquake response efforts of DOH that focus on water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH).
Through this facility, immediate access to clean and potable water will be made possible for identified communities in Manay, Davao Oriental, preventing outbreaks of water-borne diseases in the wake of the recent earthquakes and supporting limited local potable water sources. It is scheduled for deployment in a tent city in Barangay Central to be accessed by the evacuees in nearby evacuation centers.
Alongside the mobile water facility, the DOH Davao has also distributed assorted WASH commodities like aqua tabs, jerry cans, and hygiene kits.
Engr. Mohammad Fahrudin Aliuden, program manager of DOH Davao – Environmental and Occupational Health Unit, said that they are closely working with the local government unit to optimize the use of this asset, including a strategic location for it.
“We also trained personnel from the LGU to operate the mobile facility,” he said.
The machine is equipped with a 3KVA gasoline generator and can be utilized next to natural water sources like a river to supply potable water.
The machine uses a multimedia filtration system that allows water to be processed through multiple layers of filter media such as gravel, sand, and carbon to remove suspended solids, turbidity, and impurities. It also uses chlorine as a disinfectant, ensuring that water is safe to drink by killing harmful bacteria, viruses, and parasites that may cause diseases like cholera and typhoid.
“Ferric chloride is also used as a coagulant to remove suspended solids, turbidity, and organic matter,” Aliuden said.
The mobile facility, he added, is also equipped with testers to ensure water potability. The results of water testing also ensure that the parameters of emergency drinking water are met as guided by the Philippine National Standards for Drinking Water of 2017 (AO 2017-0010).
