Disaster Response & Emergency Drinking Water/Wastewater Treatment with Water On Wheels (WOW) with WaterStep's Mark Hogg

In this Interview, we meet Mark Hogg who is the Founder and CEO of WaterStep, a Nonprofit Organization based in Louisville, Kentucky. WaterStep is focused on providing disaster relief and safe water solutions through innovative technologies like the WOW (Water on Wheels) Cart, which can be deployed quickly to deliver safe water and disinfectants in emergencies.

ONE-LINER:

"We create simple, effective tools that empower communities to provide safe water and disinfectants in the most challenging conditions."

Pitch/Reverse Pitch:

Don’t miss Mark’s Pitch for the WOW Cart and WaterStep’s mission, which you can find on the video from [16:41] to [32:09].

Discussion:

After the pitch, we discuss:

• The development of the WOW Cart, a portable water treatment system that combines filtration, chlorination, and UV disinfection to produce safe drinking water quickly in disaster zones.
• The various deployments of the WOW Cart, including its use by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and in humanitarian efforts in Ukraine, Kentucky, and beyond.
• The importance of decentralized water solutions in disaster response, and how WaterStep is working with state governments like Kentucky’s to integrate mobile water treatment into emergency preparedness plans.

Insights:

At [15:44], Mark shares the story of how the Louisville Water Company’s emergency management officers prompted the creation of the WOW Cart after a series of water main breaks left the city’s downtown area at risk of losing access to safe water.

Advice:

At [53:12], Mark advises other nonprofits and startups in the water sector to focus on sustainability, collaboration, and education, stressing the importance of partnering with others to broaden impact and ensure long-term success.