Water is the artery of life and everyday routines evaporate in its absence. The power of this statement becomes absolutely clear when communities are forced to suddenly live in a post-disaster environment.

World Water Day, promoted by a United Nations inter-agency coordination mechanism for freshwater-related issues, reminds us of the importance of water abundance and redundancy. In reflection of this day of significance, I wanted to share general findings from research I performed in 2011 (while earning my master's degree in water resources engineering) regarding the provision of water to areas affected by major natural disasters.

A Study of the Not-Too-Distant Past

There have been several examples in recent years where the dramatic effects of disasters were amplified by difficulties in getting clean water to survivors. As part of my research, I evaluated five events that struck first- to third-world countries and tried to identify common vulnerabilities among the water systems in place as well as potential areas for improvement.

Some events, like the 2010 Chilean earthquake, showed a pervasive culture of preparedness highlighted by an effective and efficient response to water service interruption. Other catastrophes, like the 2010 Haitian earthquake, featured post-disaster devastation due to unprotected water sources and a lack of planning.

The most impressive situations I came across were when an effective emergency solution became a permanent one. After tsunami waves inundated the shallow well systems of some Indian Ocean islands with salt water and destroyed pipelines in 2004, response teams introduced communities to rainwater harvesting – an abundant and redundant water solution particularly effective in a climate that features 120-150 days of rainfall every year.

While my research revealed many case-specific takeaways, I found six best practices echoed in at least two separate events:

• Develop alternative water sources that can be relied on when the primary source becomes unavailable
• Develop plans for long-term, permanent water supply systems that can withstand at least the common disasters of the region, even if the upfront costs are significant
• Educate the masses on the importance of individual preparedness and how to accurately assess the safety level of local water sources
• Designate emergency supply facilities in accessible locations that are outside of high-risk areas
• Prepare an alternative plan for administering relief that can be executed if a disaster persists over an extended period of time
• When possible, develop policies that formally incorporate the private sector into disaster management plans

Simple Redundancy can be Reliable Redundancy

As water and emergency management specialists, our impact is largely limited to the regions our professional work takes us. When we do get a chance to volunteer outside our normal environment, we're forced to create infrastructure solutions based on regional materials.

One of my colleagues has firsthand experience supplying indigenous Amazonian communities with abundant and redundant clean drinking water solutions. Gabriel Stonebraker helped introduce biosand filters to an indigenous Amazonian community. These biosand filters, which consist of a 50-gallon drum, earthen materials, and some tubing, now provide access to potable water every day, as well as when the region's prolonged rains occasionally flood and contaminate local water sources.

WATCH AN EXPLANATION OF BIOSAND FILTERS

Word Water Day highlights the need for communities to take an honest look at their clean drinking water limitations. Realizing what's in place and what can be improved can help create abundant and redundant water supplies that can save communities from the dangerous days following a catastrophic event.