What's the difference between the Rapid
Response Water Treatment System (RRWTST) and the
Living Water Treatment System (LWTST)?
The LWTST is capable of treating fresh water that
does not contain dissolved contaminants (salt,
chemicals, etc.). It is a viable solution for
both disaster relief and community development.
It can be made operational in two to four hours.
The RRWTST is specifically designed
for disaster relief. It is capable of treating
any kind of water, and it can be made operational
within 30 minutes. While the system is primarily
for disaster relief, it can be run for an extended
period of time. However, the ongoing maintenance
requires extensive training, and costs are significantly
higher than the LWTST.
Both systems can produce 10,000 gallons of water
per day, enough for 3,000 people.
How does the RRWTST work?
The first step is filtration. Raw water is pumped
through a three-stage filter to remove suspended
contaminants. The second step is UV disinfection
to prevent biological growth within the system.
The third step involves a high pressure pump that
forces the water through the reverse osmosis membranes.
The fifth step has purified water exiting the
membranes and passing through an erosion chlorination
system (the chlorine residual that is added is
intended to keep the water potable until it is
consumed). A small potable water storage tank
is provided with the RRWTST,
and a separate pump is provided for drawing water
from this tank and sending it to a suitable distribution
point.
How much water can an RRWTST treat?
The RRWTST can produce 10 gallons
per minute (up to 10,000 gallons per day) of potable
water from any water source.
Why should the RRWTST be used after
a disaster in the U.S. when bottled water is readily
available?
We are fortunate in the U.S. that bottled water
is widely available and can often be delivered
quickly after a disaster. However, the RRWTST
has certain significant advantages over bottled
water.
The RRWTST can purify nearly
limitless quantities of water, depending only
on the availability of a source. On the other
hand, bottled water is finite and could be
used up before being replenished, forcing
the disaster victims to ration use or go without.
The RRWTST can provide
water for showering, washing dishes, and other
water-intensive activities. Using bottled
water for these important hygienic activities
is impractical and inefficient.
Transportation is usually one of the most
difficult obstacles in aiding disaster victims.
The RRWTST can be pre-positioned
in high-risk areas to make moving systems
to the affected areas faster. In addition,
the system is self-contained in a rugged quadcon,
a military-grade container, and can be towed
with a pick-up truck. Bottled water is usually
brought in on large trucks, which clearly
have a disadvantage when it comes to traversing
damaged roads.
What permitting is needed to use the
RRWTST in the U.S.?
Permitting is required from each state's environmental
agency. Please contact
us to find out if we are permitted in your
state.
I am an individual and would like to
improve the quality of my water or prepare for
a natural disaster. Can I purchase an RRWTST for
my personal use?
WMI is a nonprofit organization. However, in order
to generate revenue for our projects, we are willing
to sell the RRWTST at a fair
retail price. Please contact
us for more information.
