When responding to humanitarian crises, it is often necessary to build field hospitals in areas where critical water infrastructure is underdeveloped, damaged or non-existent. This lack of clean water and sanitation severely affects the ability of health authorities and NGOs to provide critical medical care when and where it is needed the most.

Emergencies and natural disasters can also turn into a race against the clock. Any delays in providing clean and safe medical care makes it easier for disease to spread, exacerbating an already precarious situation.

Scandinavian Water Technology (ScanWater) offers a complete water purification and sanitation solution for field hospitals. The solution consists of units for water treatment, purification, storage and distribution, as well as toilets and showers.

ScanWater’s mobile water treatment units can produce safe, chemical-free drinking water from any freshwater source at a rate of up to 15 000 litres per hour.

For sanitation needs, ScanWater provides the VacuSan solution. One VacuSan unit includes a vacuum station and up to 16 latrines and 12 showers. The VacuSan also comes with its own treatment unit – the Hygieniser 100 – which makes blackwater from toilets safe for disposal.

Cans, tanks, pumps and power systems for storage and distribution of drinking water are also included.

ScanWater’s field hospital solution limits the spread of disease via unsafe drinking water and inadequate sanitation facilities. It is also eco-friendly, consuming modest amounts of water.

The entire solution fits onto eight Euro pallets for easy transport and rapid deployment, which can save precious time in an emergency situation.

The global mobile water treatment market is estimated to grow from around USD 1.1 billion in 2017 to USD 2.1 billion in 2022.

Moreover, as the vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure become more apparent in the face of climate change, the demand for emergency water and sanitation systems will likely continue to grow.

ScanWater has delivered field hospital systems to authorities and humanitarian organisations worldwide, including the Canadian, Spanish and Swedish branches of the International Committee of the Red Cross, as well as the Belgian and Italian health authorities.

ScanWater is a part of Norway’s Malthe Winje Group, a leading provider of infrastructure.