The Department of Science and Technology-Central Luzon (DOST-3) will deploy a mobile water treatment system (MWTS) in Tarlac province before the end of this year as part of its continuing efforts to help boost the local government units’ (LGUs) disaster preparedness capabilities.

DOST-3 Regional Director Julius Caesar Sicat said Thursday the deployment of the MWTS is expected to enhance the disaster response capabilities of LGUs in the region by providing a portable water purification system near the evacuation centers in the communities.

“The MWTS will boost the region’s response capabilities by addressing the concern of lack of safe drinking water during disasters. With its portability, it can move easily to any disaster-affected areas,” Sicat said in a radio interview.

Funded by the DOST’s Community Empowerment through Science and Technology (CEST) program and developed by Summa Waters Inc., the MWTS has its own generator and has the capacity to produce 500 liters of potable water per hour through ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis processes.

“With the MWTS, floodwaters can be transformed into clean water in a matter of hours, and it would keep people safe in the evacuation centers and prevent the spread of diseases like diarrhea,” he said.

To ensure the efficiency of the MWTS, the DOST official said training of technical personnel who will operate the system will be conducted.

The Office of the Civil Defense-Central Luzon and the provinces of Aurora and Bulacan were the first recipients of the MWTS in the region. (PNA)