Review of the North and Central Region DMAT Joint Exercise | Mabu Valley Water Treatment and Taichung Veterans General Hospital BORP Field Preparation
In August 2026, Mabu Valley participated in the "North and Central Region DMAT Joint Disaster Medical Exercise," assisting with the onsite demonstration and operation of water treatment equipment, and deploying the HILLEBERG Stalon XL as a rest area for personnel. From the Taiwan Disaster Medical Team Development Association (DMAT) to the Taichung Veterans General Hospital BORP backup operating room team, this exercise successfully integrated medical care, water supply, space management, and personnel rest into a single unified emergency response scenario.
Key Takeaways from this Recap: Mabu Valley assisted in the demonstration of the KATADYN Rapidyn, Aquifer 360, and Aquifer 3000, presenting the essential water treatment preparations for disaster medical logistics through onsite water intake, equipment connectivity, operational testing, and outflow procedures.
Event Records
This joint exercise involved multiple DMAT teams from the northern and central regions, medical institutions, and related organizations. As seen in the group photo of the participating teams, the scale of the exercise was significant. Throughout the three-day, two-night field training, various units carried out triage, medical treatment, logistics support, temporary space deployment, and cross-team collaboration based on their respective roles. The Taiwan Disaster Medical Team Development Association and the Taichung Veterans General Hospital BORP backup operating room team also contributed to the exercise.
From DMAT to Taichung VGH BORP: Water as the Foundation of Medical Resilience
Disaster medical scenes require more than just medical technology. When existing facilities are damaged, water or power supplies are interrupted, or a large number of casualties arrive in a short time, the ability of the medical team to continue operating depends heavily on logistics systems such as water, energy, communications, temporary space, and personnel rest.
Surgical and medical environments demand higher standards for water. Backup surgery involves sterile operations, instrument processing, environmental cleaning, and infection control; beyond water volume, it is crucial to prioritize water quality monitoring, segregation of water usage, and supply stability. Different medical applications have different water quality standards—visual clarity is not sufficient for assessment.
The exercise conducted by the Taichung Veterans General Hospital BORP backup operating room team made these requirements concrete: when permanent operating rooms are unavailable or medical capacity is insufficient, the team must maintain core medical operations in alternative spaces with limited resources, making water treatment a vital component of overall logistical planning.
During the exercise, the participating teams exchanged knowledge regarding onsite water sources, backup water supply, equipment configuration, and operational division of labor. For the BORP, water treatment must be planned in tandem with medical work zones, cleaning areas, and personnel traffic flow to translate the capability of a single device into a sustainable logistical process.
Mabu Valley Assists in Demonstrating Three Water Treatment Solutions
KATADYN Rapidyn: Gravity-Fed Filtration Without Electricity
The KATADYN Rapidyn utilizes a 0.2-micron ceramic microfiltration element. When paired with an appropriate storage container, it completes the filtration process via gravity, requiring no electricity. Its intuitive structure allows for easy establishment of operational workflows, making it ideal for disaster preparedness, temporary outposts, and emergency water supply for small teams.
In this exercise, Mabu Valley provided assembly instructions for the Rapidyn with storage containers, guiding participants to verify the configuration of the raw water intake, ceramic filter, and outflow points. Through hands-on assembly and observation, basic hygiene requirements—such as segregating raw water from treated water, container cleaning, protecting the outflow point, and filter maintenance—were integrated into the team's operational protocol.
SPECTRA Aquifer 360: Bringing Mobile Water Treatment to the Exercise
The Aquifer 360 is a portable reverse osmosis (RO) system designed for both water purification and desalination, capable of processing various water sources including freshwater, brackish water, and seawater. During this exercise, the unit was used with an outdoor water source, completing actual pipe connection, power supply configuration, equipment start-up, operational monitoring, and outflow demonstration.
The value of the Aquifer 360 lies not only in the equipment itself but in its ability to bring water intake locations, pipeline lengths, energy supply, equipment placement, and operational division of labor into the field. For DMAT and BORP teams, this practical exercise helps participants understand how mobile water treatment can serve as part of backup medical logistics when existing water supply systems are disrupted.
Medical Water Note: The Aquifer 360 is a reverse osmosis water treatment system and is not equivalent to equipment for producing sterile surgical water. The intended use of the treated water for any medical or logistical task must be confirmed based on water quality testing, infection control protocols, and the medical facility's standard operating procedures.
