SAN CLEMENTE, Tarlac (Sept. 24, 2023) — A groundbreaking water filtration system developed by the Department of Science and Technology-Industrial Technology Development Institute (DOST-ITDI) was installed in this town to provide safe drinking water.
The technology – dubbed SAFEWTRS: Emergency Disinfection System of Drinking Water – is meant to solve the shortage of safe drinking water during calamities and emergencies, such as typhoons, flooding, and earthquakes, as well as in remote areas where water supply is disrupted.
SAFEWTRS involves a manually controlled, compact, and mobile water treatment system powered by solar energy that can produce up to 2,000 liters of potable water in nine hours.
The SAFEWTRS technology can operate on rainwaters, spring waters, turbid waters, and saltwater, has no major differences from the other filtration and disinfection systems.
The DOST-ITDI project was developed to help communities lacking drinking water resources and ensure the enhancement of human well-being, which is one of the four DOST strategies. It was also installed in Bagong Silangan in Quezon City, Agoncillo town in Batangas, and Sto. Domingo in Ilocos Sur.
The project is the brainchild of Engr. Reynaldo Esguerra, Chief Science Research Specialist at DOST-ITDI Environmental and Biotechnology Division.
“SAFEWATRS aims to address the shortage or unavailability of water during calamities, emergency situations, and even in remote areas where water supply is disrupted or cut off,” Esguerra said.
