Repurposing Flood Water for Safe and Sustainable
Water Solutions in Davao City
ATENEO DE DAVAO UNIVERSITY PREPARED BY:
MENG 502: ENERGY MANAGEMENT & SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY ISSUES JOANNA MARIE D. TORRES
1. PROBLEM
• Davao City faces frequent flooding due to heavy
rainfall, clogged drainage systems, and rapid
urbanization.
• Excess floodwater often leads to property damage
and environmental waste.
• Need for a sustainable solution to reduce potable
water consumption while managing excess
floodwater.
• Rapid urban growth increases the demand for
clean drinking water, putting pressure on the city's
water supply.
• Excess floodwater is largely wasted, presenting
an opportunity for repurposing.
Main Concept:
CLEAN WATER
RECYCLE
FLOOD WATER
Detailed Flood Susceptibility
Map of Davao City
2. ENGINEERING SOLUTION
JAPAN
A. Floodwater Collection
Infrastructure
• Capture excess floodwater.
• Use tanks or reservoirs
located in flood-prone
areas.
BATANGAS, PHILIPPINES
ADDU, DAVAO CITY
B. Filtration &
Purification System
• Multi-stage filtration (sand, activated carbon, UV disinfection).
• To ensure water is safe.
WASTEWATER TREATMENT
Electrolysis
▪ Oxygen ions are utilized to disinfect water.
▪ Hydroxyl and hydronium ions are generated
and move through the floodwater from one
electrode to another, chemically reacting to
eliminate bacteria and transform the
The fundamental of water electrolysis process
floodwater into clean water.
WASTEWATER TREATMENT
Mobile Surface Water Treatment (MSWT)
▪ Has been introduced in Indonesia, a country susceptible to frequent flooding and clean water
shortages.
▪ MSWT employs a modular process combining existing technologies and literature into a compact,
mobile design for ease of operation. Microfiltration (MF) or ultrafiltration (UF) is used for filtration,
followed by UV lamps for microorganism disinfection.
Sample MSWT Process Diagram
WASTEWATER TREATMENT
“SOS WATER” MOBILE WATER PURIFIER
❑ NANOTEC (National Nanotechnology Center) in
Thailand developed "SOS Water," a solar-
powered water purification system that combines
antimicrobial nanocoating with ceramic filters.
❑ This system was designed to provide clean
drinking water to communities affected by the
2011 mega flooding.
❑ The SOS Water unit can produce 200 liters of safe
drinking water per hour, meets Thai health
standards, and is portable, running on solar power
and set up in 10-15 minutes.
❑ Field tests with the Thai Red Cross showed
excellent results, and the prototype was donated
for community relief efforts.
❑ Researchers hope it will become a key tool for
disaster relief and rural water solutions.
C. WATER QUALITY TESTING
1. Microbiological Tests
o Detects microorganisms like coliforms and E. coli, indicating fecal contamination and health risks.
2. Physical and Chemical Tests
o Turbidity: Measures water cloudiness, indicating suspended particles.
o pH: Determines acidity or alkalinity.
o Electrical Conductivity: Assesses dissolved solids or salts.
o TDS: Measures total dissolved substances.
o COD: Quantifies oxygen needed to oxidize organic/inorganic matter, with high levels indicating pollution.
3. Nutrient Levels
o Tests for nitrates and phosphates, which can cause harmful algae blooms and eutrophication.
4. Heavy Metals
o Detects metals like lead and mercury, which pose health and environmental risks.
5. Other Tests
o Algal Toxins: Identifies harmful toxins from algae.
D. DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
✓ Solar energy is used to power the distribution system, making the solution sustainable and suitable for off-grid
areas. The system is designed to be modular, with the ability to scale according to community size and water
demand.
E. COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
✓ Local communities will be trained to operate, maintain, and monitor the system, ensuring long-term sustainability.
Public education campaigns will focus on promoting safe water use and hygiene practices to reduce the risk of
waterborne diseases.
2. Value Proposition
Environmental Reduced Clean Water Demand: Repurposing floodwater for general use reduces the need
for clean water, helping conserve valuable potable resources.
Benefits:
Improved Floodwater Management: Utilizing floodwater for productive purposes minimizes
waste and mitigates the environmental impact of flooding.
Economic Lower Water Bills: Households and businesses can decrease their reliance on the
Benefits: municipal water supply, leading to cost savings on water bills.
Social Enhanced Resilience: Floodwater repurposing provides a sustainable solution to water
management in flood-prone areas, increasing community resilience to climate change.
Benefits:
Community Engagement: The project fosters awareness of water conservation and
sustainable use, encouraging long-term behavior change.
3. Potential Market
Households in Flood-Prone Areas: Many residential areas in Davao City are
vulnerable to flooding. These households would benefit from a low-cost, sustainable
water source’
Commercial Establishments and Public Facilities: Businesses such as hotels,
malls, and schools, as well as public institutions like government offices, can reduce
water usage and operational costs.
Government and Local Authorities: Local governments can invest in large-scale
floodwater harvesting systems as part of urban resilience and sustainable water
management strategies.
Water Utility Companies: These companies can adopt or endorse floodwater
repurposing as part of their water conservation and sustainability efforts.
4. Feasibility
The technology for rainwater and floodwater collection, filtration, and distribution is well-established and used
Technical globally. Filtration systems are affordable and can be customized to handle local challenges, such as high turbidity
Feasibility or contaminants in floodwater.
Distribution networks for households and businesses would be similar to existing plumbing systems, making it easy
to retrofit properties with minimal disruption.
Initial costs for system installation vary depending on the scale but remain relatively low due to the simplicity of the
Economic technology. Operational costs are minimal, mostly covering maintenance of filtration systems and occasional
Feasibility cleaning of storage tanks.
Public-private partnerships or government subsidies could help offset initial costs, making the system accessible to
low-income households in flood-prone areas.
Public acceptance of using floodwater for general use is likely high, especially in flood-prone regions. However,
Social educating the public about the safety and filtration process is critical to building trust in the system.
Feasibility
Successful implementation will require collaboration with local government units (LGUs) and community
involvement to ensure effective operation and sustainability.
Environmental The system offers an environmentally sustainable solution, reducing both floodwater waste and excessive reliance
on potable water, contributing to broader sustainability and water conservation goals.
Feasibility
SOURCES:
• Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). "Detailed Flood Susceptibility Map of Davao City." (2019)
• Kamarudin, N. A., Kamarudin, M. K. A., Umar, R., Hassan, A. R., Lananan, F., & Sunardi, S. (2018). Determination of filtration and purification system for flood
water filter. International Journal of Engineering & Technology, 7(2.15), 8. https://doi.org/10.14419/ijet.v7i2.15.11188
• https://www.nanotec.or.th/en/%E2%80%9Csos-water%E2%80%9D-mobile-water-
purifier/#:~:text=The%20SOS%20water%20system%20is,result%20of%20which%20was%20outstanding.
• Arora, N. (2021b, April 1). Microbiological testing of water. Auriga Research | Testing Lab | NABL ISO/IEC 17025 Accredited | FSSAI Approved.
https://aurigaresearch.com/microbiological-testing-of-water/
• O’Donnell, D. (2022, April 27). Three main types of water quality parameters explained. Sensorex Liquid Analysis Technology. https://sensorex.com/three-main-
types-of-water-quality-parameters-explained/
• Perfect Pollucon Services - Environmental Lab. (2023, June 19). Water quality testing procedures. https://www.ppsthane.com/blog/water-quality-testing-
procedures
• What is TDS in water & why should you measure it? (n.d.). Fresh Water Systems. https://www.freshwatersystems.com/blogs/blog/what-is-tds-in-water-why-
should-you-measure-it
• COD Test, Chemical Oxygen Demand Test & COD Wate Testing | Palintest. (n.d.). Palintest.
https://www.palintest.com/parameters/cod/#:~:text=The%20Chemical%20Oxygen%20Demand%20(COD,an%20indicator%20of%20water%20quality.
• WCS Group. (n.d.). Water Testing: Metals in Water. Retrieved from https://www.wcs-group.co.uk/wcs-blog/water-testing-metals-in-water
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