Nonprofit asks Kentucky for $10 million to preposition mobile water-treatment units after floods
July 02, 2026 | 2026 Legislature KY, Kentucky
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Waterep founder and CEO Mark Hog told the committee his group has developed and field‑tested mobile “mission ready safe water” packages that treat local water sources on site, produce disinfectant and can supply communities after disasters. Hog said Kentucky needs a prepositioned network and that the Kentucky Office of Emergency Management (Director Eric Gibson) supported a plan to deploy 22 packages statewide with two held in reserve.
Waterep requested a $10 million, five‑year appropriation to build and sustain the network, which would include 22 fully outfitted trailers, a training trailer for certifying operators, silo tanks and distribution equipment at regional bases, and a technology platform linking units to state emergency management in real time. Hog said the plan and requested funding would make Kentucky the first state in the nation to operate an ecosystem of this scale for mobile water treatment.
Technical presenters demonstrated capacities and options: Waterep described standard “WOW cart” units that typically produce 10,000–15,000 gallons per day depending on source turbidity and filtration configuration, and noted the carts are adaptable to add filtration media. Jim Goodrich from the EPA said the activated carbon currently used on the cart is the industry standard for PFAS removal and that research is ongoing on other media and technologies.
Committee members asked about FEMA involvement; an EPA representative said FEMA itself has not purchased such packages but can fund approved contractors or mission assignments for states that deploy them. Presenters described on‑site distribution models — manifold lines, silo tanks and drive‑up fill points — and said the units can be mounted on trailers or carried in pickup trucks for mobility.
Members flagged multiple potential uses beyond flood response, including support for hospitals, nursing homes and emergency operations during extended outages. Presenters said Waterep and federal partners have tested the system in Kentucky floods and in other disasters and that the proposed appropriation would include five years of maintenance, operator recertification and annual performance reporting to the legislature.
The committee concluded its questions and moved to adjourn later in the session.
Waterep requested a $10 million, five‑year appropriation to build and sustain the network, which would include 22 fully outfitted trailers, a training trailer for certifying operators, silo tanks and distribution equipment at regional bases, and a technology platform linking units to state emergency management in real time. Hog said the plan and requested funding would make Kentucky the first state in the nation to operate an ecosystem of this scale for mobile water treatment.
Technical presenters demonstrated capacities and options: Waterep described standard “WOW cart” units that typically produce 10,000–15,000 gallons per day depending on source turbidity and filtration configuration, and noted the carts are adaptable to add filtration media. Jim Goodrich from the EPA said the activated carbon currently used on the cart is the industry standard for PFAS removal and that research is ongoing on other media and technologies.
Committee members asked about FEMA involvement; an EPA representative said FEMA itself has not purchased such packages but can fund approved contractors or mission assignments for states that deploy them. Presenters described on‑site distribution models — manifold lines, silo tanks and drive‑up fill points — and said the units can be mounted on trailers or carried in pickup trucks for mobility.
Members flagged multiple potential uses beyond flood response, including support for hospitals, nursing homes and emergency operations during extended outages. Presenters said Waterep and federal partners have tested the system in Kentucky floods and in other disasters and that the proposed appropriation would include five years of maintenance, operator recertification and annual performance reporting to the legislature.
The committee concluded its questions and moved to adjourn later in the session.
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