Water advocacy group deploys 4,000 filtration systems for Super Typhoon Odette victims

Severe Tropical Storm Odette (International Name “Rai”) entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility on December 14, 2021 and shortly intensified into a Category 5 Super Typhoon across Visayas and Mindanao. In just 28 hours, Super Typhoon Odette left over 8.8 million people affected, 9 million displaced and 36 million homes damaged and/or destroyed according to OCHA.

With water supply infrastructure damaged, and essential health services crippled and worsened by the pandemic, access to clean water became an immediate need to prevent the spread of waterborne diseases and life-threatening dehydration.

Global humanitarian aid organization Waves For Water (W4W) Philippines immediately deployed an initial 100 water filtration systems to Siargao. At 0.1 micron absolute, the filters make it impossible for any life-threatening contaminants to pass through. The technology also serves as the most sustainable way of providing clean water—saving on the logistics cost of bulk water transport and eliminating single waste plastic.

Now, two months into mobilizing a full-scale response, the organization has been able to deploy 4,274 filters, 200 reusable containers, 6 rainwater catchment tanks, and 5 generators, across 10 provinces that are able to provide for over 200,000 people with potable drinking water.

“We are grateful for the outpouring of support for Waves For Water Philippines. Responding to a disaster on the scale of Odette has been very complex coupled with the outbreak of Omicron, and the logistical challenge of being an archipelago,” said Waves For Water Philippines Country Director, Jenica Dizon. “The disaster-prone Philippines is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate risks. Odette has reminded us of this—that we primarily feel the effects of climate change in terms of water, not just in droughts and flooding but how it also impacts our very own health. We wouldn’t have been able to respond so efficiently without local and international support from individual donors, private sector contributions, and our wonderful network of partner organizations and clean water couriers, including and our official airline partner Cebu Pacific Air, who have been supporting us since our Typhoon Rolly/ Ulysses response.”

"Typhoons in the Philippines aren't just common, they are inevitable” adds Jon Rose, Waves For Water founder. “One of the initial goals, when we started W4W Philippines, was to always have a permanent team ready for local disaster events that might arise in the future. What we have seen with Odette and the incredible response the Philippines office has conducted, is that vision realized. But the overwhelming support that has come in for Odette from the international community is nothing short of amazing. We built the foundation for success years ago and the results have manifested into one of our most powerful programs to date. "

To sustain the rebuilding and rehabilitation efforts for typhoon victims, the second phase of the Waves for Water Philippines’ response is the strategic deployment of centrally located community water depots that can serve larger communities in need. Other long-term interventions such as the construction of rainwater harvesting systems and toilets, the distribution of hygiene kits, and strengthening of information, education, and communication (IEC) campaigns will be implemented to holistically address water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) needs.

Driven by the fundamental belief that access to clean water is a basic right everyone should be able to enjoy, Waves for Water Philippines will continue its work to make this a reality for all Filipinos. The organization’s donation channels remain open. If you would like to support and take immediate action with Waves For Water, click here.

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About Waves For Water Waves For Water (W4W) is a global humanitarian aid organization that implements clean water solutions with remote communities through filtration systems and rainwater harvesting. Founded by Jon Rose in 2009, the organization has implemented 155 clean water programs in over 45 countries, and has responded to 33 major natural disasters impacting an estimated 3,750,000 individuals. In the Philippines, W4W has worked with local communities across 56 provinces, built 66 rainwater catchment systems, and helped improve the lives of a million Filipinos with access to clean water.

Contact: Jenica Dizon at [email protected]

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