Beyond Bottled Water: EPA Showcases Technology That Provides Safe Drinking Water to Disaster-Hit Areas
September marks National Preparedness Month
LENEXA, KAN. (SEPT. 18, 2026) – Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 held a demonstration event featuring the Region’s Water-on-Wheels Mobile Emergency Water Treatment System (WOW Cart) at Clinton State Park in Lawrence, Kansas. The event — held during National Preparedness Month — included federal partners, local public health leaders, and water-focused non-profits.
EPA Region 7 Administrator Jim Macy and U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region 7 Administrator Jay Van Der Werff gave remarks on the importance of emergency response and federal partnership.
“The best emergency responses start with thoughtful preparation,” said EPA Regional Administrator Macy. “Together with our partners, we will continue to support solutions that increase community resiliency in the face of disaster, including technology like the Water-on-Wheels Mobile Emergency Water Treatment System that we highlighted today.”
“Today’s demonstration reinforces that resilient water infrastructure and strong state and local preparedness are essential before disaster strikes,” said FEMA Regional Administrator Van Der Werff. “Events like this help local and state partners assess capabilities, strengthen coordination, and better understand when and what kind of additional support may be needed or available to protect the Water Systems Community Lifeline.”
EPA Region 7, the Kansas Rural Water Association, and WaterStep staffed booths throughout the day to provide information on water sampling and testing, WOW Cart technology, and technical assistance. The EPA Region 7 Mobile Command Post and Mobile Drinking Water Lab, which are routinely deployed in response to environmental emergencies, were also on display.
Following an emergency event, communities need access to clean water not only for drinking, but also for cooking, cleaning, and medical triage. The WOW Cart is a versatile water treatment system that is about the size of a shopping cart and can produce up to 10,000 gallons of treated water per day. WOW Carts can replace or supplement the need for bottled water following disasters.
Since 2020, WOW Carts have been used in tornado, hurricane, and flood responses both nationally and internationally. The WOW Cart was developed through an EPA partnership with WaterStep.
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