Waves for Water deploys water filtration systems

MANILA, Philippines — Severe Tropical Storm Odette entered the Philippine area of responsibility on Dec. 14, 2021 and shortly intensified into a category 5 super typhoon across the Visayas and Mindanao.

In just 28 hours, Odette (Rai) left over 8.8 million people affected, nine million displaced and 36 million homes damaged or destroyed.

With the water supply infrastructure damaged and essential health services crippled and worsened by the pandemic, access to clean water became an immediate need to prevent the spread of waterborne diseases and life-threatening dehydration.

Global humanitarian aid organization Waves For Water (W4W) Philippines immediately deployed an initial 100 water filtration systems to Siargao. At 0.1 micron absolute, the filters make it impossible for any life-threatening contaminants to pass through. The technology also serves as the most sustainable way of providing clean water – saving on the logistics cost of bulk water transport and eliminating single use plastic.

Now, two months into mobilizing a full-scale response, the organization has been able to deploy 4,274, 200 reusable containers, six rainwater catchment tanks and five generators across 10 provinces that are able to provide over 200,000 people with potable drinking water.

“We are grateful for the outpouring of support for Waves For Water Philippines. Responding to a disaster on the scale of Odette has been very complex coupled with the outbreak of Omicron and the logistical challenge of being an archipelago,” said W4W Philippines country director Jenica Dizon. “The Philippines is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate risks. Odette has reminded us of this – that we primarily feel the effects of climate change in terms of water, not just in droughts and flooding but how it also impacts our very own health.”

“Typhoons in the Philippines aren’t just common, they are inevitable,” added Jon Rose, W4W founder. “One of the initial goals, when we started W4W Philippines, was to always have a permanent team ready for local disaster events that might arise in the future.”

“It has always been part of our Filipino bayanihan spirit to assist in relief operations wherever we can. We all know Siargao was one of the destinations severely affected by Odette and we prioritized our response with the immediate transport of essential goods, especially water treatment needs of the community,” said Michael Ivan Shau, chief corporate affairs officer at Cebu Pacific. To date, the airline has transported over two tons (1,447 units) worth of filters free of charge, across six affected provinces.

To sustain the rebuilding and rehabilitation efforts for typhoon victims, the second phase of the W4W Philippines’ response is the strategic deployment of centrally located community water depots that can serve larger communities in need. Other long-term interventions such as the construction of rainwater harvesting systems and toilets, distribution of hygiene kits and strengthening of information, education and communication campaigns will be implemented to holistically address water, sanitation and hygiene needs.