Water-on-Wheels Mobile Water Treatment System (WOW Cart)
A modular, portable water treatment system to provide safe water during emergencies
Following an emergency event, communities need access to clean water not only for drinking but also for cooking, cleaning, and medical triage. The WOW Cart is an inexpensive and versatile water treatment system about the size of a shopping cart. It is configured with multiple treatment technologies and is equipped with alternative power sources. The system is easy to operate and can be deployed to critical infrastructure ahead of oncoming natural events, such as hospitals, to build resiliency.
EPA researchers partnered with WaterStep, a nonprofit whose mission is to provide safe water and sanitation to communities, to develop a modular, mobile water treatment system known as Water on Wheels – Emergency Mobile Water Treatment System (also known as the WOW Cart). This partnership was developed through the Federal Technology Transfer Act cooperative research and development agreement (CRADA), which allows the federal government to work directly with private companies. EPA’s role in the partnership with WaterStep was to provide technical assistance, environmental sampling and analysis, and logistical support. Researchers also provided expertise to expand the mobile unit’s capability with drinking water treatment and disinfection research, including granular activated carbon (GAC) and UV disinfection best practices. WaterStep designed the mobile treatment cart and provided the engineering and fabrication. (It should be noted that disinfection devices are regulated under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and may also be subject to other specific state regulations.)
On this page:
Features and Capabilities
Treatment Train:
- Up to 10 gallons per minute
- Pre-filtration to reduce turbidity and improve disinfection
- Two media filtration/adsorption tanks for targeted chemical or radiological contaminant removal (e.g. Granular Activated Carbon or Ion Exchange)
- On-site chlorine gas generation using table salt/electricity for infusion into drinking water
- UV-C LED for additional microbial inactivation
- Liquid bleach solution for general sanitation
- Ability to add or subtract treatment processes in the field
- Ability to re-circulate treated water to increase disinfection contact time
Power Supplies:
- Dual Fuel Generator (propane, gasoline)
- On-board pump
- 110v AC
- 12v DC deep cell marine battery w/solar panel recharge
- Electronics USB charging station
Mobility:
- Weighs less than 500 pounds
- Fits in back of pick-up truck
- 2-person transport
- 1,250 gallon (4,700 liters) foldable bladder tank
- Remote telemetry/GPS reporting capability
Related Products & Resources
- User Manual
- EPA Report: Design, Testing, and Deployment of a Mobile Emergency Water Treatment System
- Water on Wheels (WOW) Mobile Emergency Water Treatment System Cart Fact Sheet (pdf)
- Webinar: Clean Water Access During Emergencies (2024)
- Webinar: Building Resiliency: Emergency Water Treatment System (2021)
- Science Matters: EPA Researchers Partner with WaterStep to Deliver Clean Water During Emergencies
Deployments
The WOW Cart has provided treated drinking water in the aftermath of multiple disasters of all types. Visit the WOW Cart Deployments page for examples and photos of the WOW Cart in action, or click on the categories below.
Contact
Dr. James Goodrich, EPA Project Lead
goodrich.james@epa.gov
513-569-7605