Household Water Treatment and Safe Storage (HWTS)

Aim

To prepare participants for deployment as members of the Household Water Treatment and Safe Storage (HWTS) Module by providing them with the knowledge and practical skills necessary to design, implement, and manage household water treatment programmes in emergency contexts.

Objective

Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to:

Conduct assessments of household water access, storage practices, and hygiene behaviour in emergency-affected areas.
Design and implement HWTS interventions, including hygiene promotion and safe storage components.
Identify and apply appropriate water treatment technologies suited to local contexts.
Coordinate with logistics and distribution teams for effective delivery of HWTS materials.
Plan, monitor, and evaluate HWTS programmes, ensuring accountability and inclusion.
Collaborate effectively with other Emergency Response Units (ERUs) and partners during emergency and recovery phases.
Identify and plan appropriate approaches to improve access to HWTS materials, such as kit distribution or cash and voucher assistance

Main technical aspects

The training covers essential technical areas, including:

Household Water Quality Management: contamination risks, testing, and quality assurance.
Water Treatment Technologies: chlorination, filtration, solar disinfection (SODIS), and safe storage.
Access to materials: design and implement context specific modalities to improve access to water treatment products, such as distribution of materials or cash and voucher assistance (CVA).
Hygiene Promotion and Behaviour Change: community mobilization and communication strategies.
Monitoring and Reporting: data collection, indicators, and impact assessment.
Market and Supply Chain Analysis: engaging local suppliers for sustainable HWTS implementation.

General Information

The HWTS Module is a specialized component within the Emergency Response Unit (ERU) system. It supports host National Societies in establishing household-level water treatment and safe storage programmes in emergencies, integrating hygiene promotion and behaviour change communication. The module is designed for flexible deployment, capable of operating independently or in coordination with other ERUs during emergency and recovery phases.