2026 National Disaster Prevention Day Exercise | Mabu Valley Assists DMAT in Deploying Mobile Water Treatment and Backup Water Supply Equipment
This drill simulated a magnitude 7.3 earthquake in the southern segment of the Huadong Valley fault system, causing severe damage in Taitung and Hualien. With critical infrastructure like roads, power, tap water, and telecommunications potentially disrupted, disaster-stricken areas must rapidly establish medical, logistical, and water supply capabilities before external support fully arrives.
The 2026 National Disaster Prevention Day large-scale earthquake disaster relief mobilization drill was held from September 16 to 18 at sites including Taitung Seaside Park. Personnel from the military, fire services, medical teams, local governments, non-governmental organizations, and international rescue teams participated to evaluate cross-agency response and support processes following a major disaster.
Mabu Valley collaborated with the Taiwan Disaster Medicine Society to assist with the exhibition and deployment of water treatment equipment for the Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT) on-site. The focus was not merely on how much water the equipment could produce, but on how to establish a sustainable water supply capability from local water sources when infrastructure such as power and tap water is interrupted.
The President and representatives from relevant agencies inspect the drill site. Photo credit: Office of the President.
Drill Information
In a major disaster, water supply must be integrated into the overall relief process
Following a large-scale disaster, in addition to search, rescue, and medical care, efforts in telecommunications, power, supplies, water, and environmental sanitation must be synchronized. For water treatment operations, source conditions, intake locations, power supply, piping, storage containers, and operating personnel all affect whether equipment can continue to function.
In this drill, Mabu Valley coordinated with the DMAT on-site plan, assisting in equipment transport, setup, water intake, power supply, and output configuration. We worked alongside medical and on-site personnel to evaluate the conditions that must be prepared in advance if water treatment equipment is to be integrated into the disaster medical support workflow.
Mabu Valley assists in explaining equipment configuration, operation, and water supply processes at the drill site.
Even when fixed power is interrupted, water supply must be established from local sources
The drill venue was located near the coast, using seawater directly as raw water (untreated water source). When fixed power is interrupted, equipment can be paired with generators, batteries, or solar power systems for continuous operation depending on the model.
The significance of such a configuration is that when roads are cut off, bottled water has not yet arrived, or fixed water systems fail, suitable equipment can be selected based on local water conditions—using available freshwater, brackish water, or seawater to establish mobile water treatment capabilities, thereby reducing reliance on external water transport and supply.
At the drill site, different containers were used to separate intake and output, ensuring raw water and treated water remained separate.
Equipment of varying capacities addresses different drinking water needs
The equipment displayed ranged from high-capacity reverse osmosis desalination systems to gravity-fed water filters that require no electricity. Deployment methods, treatable sources, power requirements, and water output capacities vary for each, and must be selected based on mission scale.
In brief, the Aquifer 3000 is geared toward centralized, high-volume supply; the Aquifer 360 is suitable for mobile and decentralized deployment; the HFD-PS40 fills the need for man-portable water production; and the Rapidyn is a gravity-fed freshwater filter that requires no electricity.
The following water output and conversion data are based on original manufacturer ratings; actual output will vary depending on on-site conditions.
Aquifer 3000: Centralized supply capacity of up to approximately 11,356 liters per day
The Aquifer 3000 can process freshwater, brackish water, and seawater. Its high-speed mode produces about 473 liters per hour, for a maximum of approximately 11,356 liters per day. If considering drinking water alone, calculated at 2 liters per person per day, this is equivalent to the daily drinking water requirement for approximately 5,500 people.
The equipment is housed in two cases and can be transported by two people; during this drill, it was deployed and operational in approximately 20 minutes.
On-site display configuration of the Aquifer 3000 with intake and output containers.
Aquifer 360 EXP Flight Ready: Mobile supply capacity of approximately 1,360 liters per day
The Aquifer 360 EXP Flight Ready produces about 56 liters per hour, or approximately 1,360 liters per day. Calculated in terms of 24-bottle cases (600 mL per bottle), this rated daily output is equivalent to approximately 94 cases, which can significantly reduce the pressure on logistics and supplies.
The system is divided into two impact-resistant roller cases, handles freshwater, brackish water, and seawater, and can be paired with solar power units. Compared to high-capacity systems, it is better suited for mobile medical units, forward command posts, or missions requiring decentralized deployment.
On-site configuration showing the Aquifer 360 EXP Flight Ready alongside the Rapidyn and other equipment of varying capacities.
HFD-PS40: Man-portable water production equipment for when mobility is needed
The KATADYN HFD-PS40 handles freshwater, brackish water, and seawater, producing approximately 6.3 liters per hour and 151 liters per day. It operates on 12–35V DC power, can be paired with solar power, and includes a manual operation mode. When vehicles or large equipment cannot easily reach a location, or when equipment must be distributed to different outposts, man-portable systems provide added deployment flexibility.
Rapidyn: Freshwater filtration without reliance on electricity
The Rapidyn utilizes a 0.2-micron ceramic filter element, relying on gravity to drive water flow without electricity. It flows at approximately 4 liters per hour and can be used for small-scale filtration and backup for freshwater sources like rivers or ponds; when multiple units are deployed, water supply can be arranged according to the number of people at different locations.
Rapid deployment still requires a comprehensive on-site workflow
Mobile equipment can shorten the time required to establish water supply, but arrival at the scene does not mean the work is done. From raw water assessment, pre-treatment, and equipment operation, to intake and output separation, storage, distribution, operational logs, and equipment cleaning—every single step affects the sustainability of the water supply.
The value of drills lies in placing equipment, personnel, and workflows into the same scenario to identify gaps in water intake, power, piping, storage, and cross-agency division of labor in advance. When a real disaster occurs, on-site teams will be better prepared to integrate equipment into medical, settlement, and logistical operations more quickly.
When planning disaster water supply equipment, consider these four points:
- Is the site source freshwater, brackish water, or seawater?
- What power sources are available?
- How will the equipment be transported and moved?
- How many people need to be supplied daily, and is the water primarily for drinking, cooking, cleaning, or medical logistics?
There is no single solution for disaster water supply. You can plan combinations of centralized, mobile, or non-electric backup equipment based on water source, power availability, transport capability, and daily water needs.
Data Sources
Drill Information:Office of the President – 2026 National Disaster Prevention Day Materials, National Fire Agency, Ministry of the Interior – National Disaster Prevention Day Earthquake Drill Materials
Equipment Information:Aquifer 3000, Aquifer 360 EXP Flight Ready, HFD-PS40, Rapidyn Filter
View KATADYN Taiwan Disaster Drinking Water & Food Solutions
