In response to a major landslide in the La Mica sector that disrupted drinking water supply in southern Quito, ADRA Ecuador activated its emergency WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) response team and deployed its mobile water treatment plant. The system, which can produce up to 100,000 liters of safe drinking water per day, became operational through a collaboration with local company Kubiec.

Kubiec provided essential infrastructure, including a water collection and storage system, as well as technical personnel to assist with the installation of ADRA’s equipment. This cooperation enabled the rapid and timely delivery of safe drinking water to affected communities.

Ronald Estrella, ADRA Ecuador’s national emergency response coordinator, explained the plant’s multi-stage purification process.

“The plant connects directly to the water source, passes through the flocculation system, then through the settler, a filtration layer, and finally, we have the chlorination or disinfection phase. The treated water is stored in cisterns, ready for distribution,” Estrella said.

From July 18 to 24, 2025, ADRA’s team implemented a comprehensive water quality control system using a mobile laboratory. Daily tests included physical and chemical analyses (chlorine, pH, nitrites, nitrates), heavy metals screening, and microbiological evaluations for E. coli and fecal coliforms—ensuring every liter of water distributed met standards for human consumption.

The coordinated emergency response benefited more than 10,600 residents in the affected region, with approximately 160,000 liters of safe water distributed during the week-long operation.

The effort was carried out in collaboration with the Municipality of Quito, the Metropolitan Public Company of Drinking Water and Sanitation (EPMAPS), the Secretariat of Security and Risk Management, and the Metropolitan Control Agent Corps—underlining the strength of unified, multisector response.

“Thanks to the support of the private company Kubiec and the NGO ADRA, we installed a water treatment plant with a capacity of 100,000 liters per day,” the Quito Drinking Water Company shared on its official X (formerly Twitter) account.

ADRA Ecuador reaffirmed its ongoing commitment to providing technical, sustainable, and people-focused solutions for communities affected by emergencies—ensuring access to safe drinking water as a basic human right.

The original article was published on the South American Division Spanish news site. Join the ANN WhatsApp Channel for the latest Adventist news.