Supplying drinking water to the villages destroyed by the Sichuan earthquake

"Supplying drinking water is the most difficult challenge after this devastating earthquake. The aid of Veoliaforce was prompt and effective."

Jiang Bo, technical director of the Veolia Chengdu plant

The local authorities promptly took the necessary measures, shelter for the victims and, sometimes, relocation on the outskirts of built-up areas with less damaged infrastructures. Yet drinking water was still lacking in many places, due to the population influx or the destruction of the springs or networks.

Instant mobilization

The Chinese authorities quickly approached Veolia Water Asia, which then called on Veoliaforce. Two mobile water treatment units were dispatched on 16 May, accompanied by three Veoliaforce experts. On the spot, among the many employees who answered the appeal from Veolia Water Asia, nine were selected for their expertise in networks, in operations or in chemistry, and joined Tian Gang, director of the Veolia Water plant in Chengdu, to train the local team (Tian was destined to play a key role in liaison with the authorities). They were rushed through a three-day training course.

Speed and efficiency

On 21 May, two volunteers went to the village of Xiang'e, where thousands of survivors were living in tents. After a diagnosis, a safe spring was identified. The local team was ferried in by truck with the equipment. After some light earthworks, the Aquaforce line was installed and then boosted by tank trucks to meet the growing demand from the environs. As of 24 May, a second station was running in Taguanje. The third Aquaforce arrived on 31 May, with two French volunteers who took over from their colleagues. On 4 June, it was installed at Ci-Fong, to supply 10,000 persons. The Chinese volunteers then operated the three stations, in semi‑monthly relays.

New mission

At the request of UNICEF, of which Veoliaforce is a stand-by partner, another post‑emergency mission was organized from 1 to 17 July. It allowed the deployment of five mobile units of UNICEF, including a water treatment system, flexible reservoirs and supply systems equipped with taps in four severely damaged counties of Sichuan, as well as the training of twelve local technicians and operators.