EPA Research Partner Support Story: Water-On-Wheels Mobile Emergency Water Treatment System

Partner:  Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection, Division of Water and Department of Public Health
Challenge: Providing clean, safe water following natural disasters
Resource: Water-On-Wheels Mobile Emergency Water Treatment System (WOW Cart)
Project Period: 2020 – Present

Recovery following a natural or man-made disaster such as a flood or accident often requires an emergency supply of safe, potable water. Bottled water is typically the first choice. However, long-term dependence on bottled water creates plastic bottle waste and in large or extended recoveries, using bottled water for bathing, sanitation and laundry is impractical. Mobile water treatment can significantly reduce the volume and cost of water to be transported.

“Water everywhere and non-drinkable. During the 2022 Eastern Kentucky flooding event, the WOW carts provided crucial relief for first responders and residents during this horrific event.” – KY Dept. of Health Readiness Response Coordinator David Carney

EPA ORD, in partnership with WaterStep, developed and patented the affordable and versatile Water-On-Wheels Mobile Emergency Water Treatment System (WOW Cart). The system is about the size of a shopping cart, is configured with multiple treatment technologies (filtration, carbon, UV and chlorination), can run on a variety of power sources (AC, DC and solar), and makes liquid bleach on site. The easy-to-operate technology makes quick training of first responders, community leaders, water system operators, and volunteer organizations possible, and it can be dispatched ahead of predicted natural events to facilities such as hospitals.

The WOW Cart has already been successfully used to help Kentucky communities in the aftermath of disaster:

• In September 2024, Hurricane Helene caused life-threatening flash and urban flooding, including numerous significant landslides in the southern Appalachian region. Working with state agencies, WaterStep was able to set up WOW carts in Asheville, NC to supply potable water for residents.
• In August 2022, deadly flooding occurred in Eastern Kentucky and the public water supply was lost for weeks. Working with state agencies, WaterStep and the Kentucky Rural Water Association were able to set up four WOW carts in the communities of Hazard, Buckhorn and Mayking. The WOW Carts supplied potable water and disinfectant for food facilities, mobile showers, laundry trucks, and displaced people.
• In December 2021, a deadly tornado devastated communities in Western Kentucky, knocking out power for days and placing thousands of customers served by the water utility under a Boil Water Order. A WOW Cart was set-up at the Graves County Health Department, in conjunction with the Kentucky Department of Public Health, to provide first responders with showers and safe drinking water. A second WOW Cart supplied safe water to a food relief organization that prepared thousands of free meals each day that were distributed from a mobile kitchen.

Efforts are underway to pre-position up to 18 WOW Carts across the state of Kentucky, through an emergency response network of trained water system operators, engineers and volunteers. WaterStep is in discussions with the state of Kentucky to develop pre-approval for emergency mobile water treatment systems and the testing and monitoring requirements to assure the water is safe to drink.