Drinking water emergency: Ticino unveils new mobile water treatment plant

Context

TL;DR

• Ticino unveils mobile water treatment plant
• 24 cubic meters of water treated per hour
• 260,000 francs invested in the project
• System ready for emergencies and contamination

Key facts

• Treatment capacity: Up to 24 cubic metres per hour
• Investment: 260,000 francs
• Cantons with systems: Ticino, Vaud, Valais
• Emergency scenarios: Bacteriological contamination and natural disasters
• Intervention time: Immediate, with distribution within a few hours
• Distribution methods: Direct networks and mobile tankers
• Emergency activation: Via official websites, social media, emergency sirens, and Alertswiss app

Today, Ticino unveiled its new mobile drinking water treatment plant operated by the Civil Protection agency. The device can convert non-potable water into safe drinking water, with a treatment capacity of up to 24 cubic metres per hour. The investment amounts to 260,000 francs, placing the canton among the few in Switzerland to have such a system, alongside Vaud and Valais.

During the demonstration, Flaviano Bettoni from the Military and Civil Protection Section explained how it works: >'The basin simulates water intake with the pump. The water to be purified, indicated by the yellow pipe, reaches the treatment unit where five microfiltration filters make it drinkable. The treated water exits through the blue pipes and can be distributed via taps or tanks.' The process removes bacteria and microparticles but does not eliminate chemical contamination.

A project born from past emergencies

The device is part of a strategic plan launched in 2019 by the Military and Civil Protection Section, in collaboration with the Ticino Waterworks Association, the cantonal laboratory, and the Department of Territory. >'After events like the Valle Maggia tragedy or the 2016 Cugnasco-Gerra flood, we realised how crucial it is to have a ready-to-use system,' said Claudio Zali, Director of the Department of Territory. In both cases, restoring water networks took a long time, leaving the population without safe access to drinking water.

The new plant allows water to be distributed both via tanks and through direct dispensing points. >'Today, we can guarantee a service that, in the event of major emergencies, we couldn’t provide before,' Bettoni emphasised. Another key advantage is standardisation: the pipe colour-coding and installation procedures were developed in coordination with other cantons using the same equipment, facilitating coordinated use even beyond cantonal borders.

Field testing

During the presentation, a glass of initially non-potable water was filtered and tasted on the spot. The feedback was positive: >'Very good, I’d say. Just like spring water.' A result that confirms the device’s effectiveness in real conditions.

📊 Key figures

• Treatment capacity: up to 24 cubic metres per hour
• Investment: 260,000 francs
• cantons with similar systems: Ticino, Vaud, Valais

Operational details

For cross-border workers and Ticino residents, this system represents an additional safeguard in the event of emergencies that could threaten the water supply. Before the introduction of this mobile plant, in critical situations such as floods or contamination, the population relied solely on the often slow and uncertain recovery capacity of local networks.

Before vs after: what changes

📊

The device is designed to intervene in cases of bacteriological contamination, such as the incident during the 2020 flood in Locarno, when rivers and groundwater were contaminated by pathogens. In such situations, drinking water becomes a precious commodity, and its rapid availability can make the difference between a manageable crisis and a public health emergency.

⚠️ Concrete scenarios for cross-border workers Cross-border commuters residing in Ticino and living in isolated areas — such as Vallemaggia or Riviera — directly benefit from this plant. In the event of road closures or community isolation, having access to safe distribution points avoids resorting to makeshift solutions, such as purchasing overpriced bottled water at border shops.

Another scenario involves small border municipalities, where water networks may be more vulnerable to contamination from Italy. The mobile plant enables the activation of an emergency protocol without waiting for intervention from other cantons or the Confederation, reducing waiting times from days to hours.

💡 The impact on emergency management The Ticino Civil Protection highlights that this device does not replace investments in water network safety but serves as an essential backup plan. 'We should focus on prevention to avoid such emergencies,' noted Zali. However, unpredictable events like the floods in Valle Maggia or landslides in Cugnasco-Gerra demonstrate that preparedness is crucial. The mobile plant is therefore a key element of the canton’s new emergency water supply strategy.

«This is not a substitute for prevention, but a vital tool to mitigate risks when prevention fails.» — Ticino Civil Protection spokesman

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Key points

For citizens and cross-border workers who want to know how to access drinking water in an emergency, Ticino's civil protection has established a clear procedure. Here are the steps to follow:

1. Identifying distribution points

In the event of an emergency, the population will be informed via:

• Official websites (Department of Territory, Civil Protection)
• Social media (official TicinoNews, Ticino Civil Protection accounts)
• Emergency sirens and voice messages
• Alert apps such as Alertswiss

Distribution points will be marked with specific signage and set up in accessible areas, such as municipal parking lots or main squares.

2. Distribution methods

Drinking water can be collected in two ways:

• Direct tap points: dispensing stations with taps to fill bottles or jerrycans
• Mobile cisterns: distribution via tankers in isolated neighbourhoods or villages

It is recommended to bring clean, sanitised containers for transporting water.

3. Emergency duration and procedures

The activation of the system depends on the severity of the event. In the case of bacterial contamination, distribution will continue until the public water network is restored. Civil Protection will continuously monitor water quality through the cantonal laboratory.

4. What to bring with you

If you are in a risk zone, it is useful to have:

• Reusable bottles (at least 5 litres per person)
• Storage jerrycans (up to 20 litres)
• Hand sanitiser (to disinfect containers)

📊 Beware of fake news During emergencies, unverified information often circulates on social media. Civil Protection urges you to follow only official sources and not to spread unconfirmed news.

💡 Useful tools for cross-border workers For those who want to stay up to date on emergency procedures in Ticino, we recommend:

• Signing up for the Alertswiss alert service (alertswiss.ch)
• Consulting the emergency distribution point map on the Department of Territory’s website
• Downloading the Ticino Civil Protection app to receive real-time notifications

This system represents a concrete step forward in Ticino’s water security. For cross-border workers, who often live in peripheral or border areas, its presence offers added peace of mind, knowing that drinking water will be available promptly in case of need.

Source: ticinonews.ch