Dr. Roddy Tempest and the Ultrameter II™ in Disaster Response
Find out how the Ultrameter II gave Dr. Tempest fast accurate results that let him act quickly and help save the lives of thousands of people.
When disaster strikes, people are scared and disorganized. They need resources — safe water and proper sanitation — that aren’t easy to come by in the aftermath. Without the help of humani-tarian organizations to provide assistance, large populations of survivors are subject to epidemics of cholera, diarrhea, meningitis, and other diseases as they struggle to meet these basic needs.
Qualified Help
Dr. Roddy Tempest, a leading designer and manufacturer of water purification systems has headed the efforts of public and private aid organizations, such as the United Nations and AmeriCares, in responding to people in crisis all over the world for over 15 years.
Dr. Tempest contributed his expertise and experience in such situations as the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew in 1992, the Kosovar refugee crisis in the Balkans, the devastating earthquakes in Turkey and the flood and mudslides that ravaged the coastal states of Venezuela in 1999. He has assisted in disaster relief efforts in Japan, Africa, Central America, and Taiwan, as well.
So when AmeriCares launched its water purification program for the inhabitants of Sri Lanka following the devastation of the tsunami on December 26,2004, it turned to Dr. Tempest.
For this heroic effort, Myron L Company donated two Ultrameter II6P portable, handheld water testing instruments. Dr Tempest said the instruments gave him "a good, quick first-brush assessment of the possible water sources."The Ultrameter II reported and recorded instant precise measurements of Conductivity, Resistivity, TDS, ORP (REDOX), pH, and Temperature. But creating a livable situation for hundreds of thousands of displaced survivors wasn`t as easy as testing the water.
Water Doctor to the Rescue
From his offices in the United States, Dr. Tempest responded to the call for help by first reviewing satellite maps that showed the location of potential water sources in relation to groups of survivors, or Internally Displace Persons (IDPs). He assessed the total situation of the potential water sources, trying at a glance to determine possible contamination by flooding or infiltration of seawater.
Upon his arrival in Sri Lanka, Dr. Tempest worked 24 hours a day to determine a suitable survival supply of water for the IDPs. As indicated in the World Health Organization`s Environmental Health in Emergencies and Disasters1, the required water per person per day is 15 liters / 3.963 gallons.
Faced with this daunting task, Dr.Tempest surveyed the land via helicopter and fixed wing aircraft to record the extent of the damage, the location of IDPs, and the viability of potential water sources. Some of the photographs reveal the mammoth challenge he had ahead of him. Debris lay everywhere, indicating the likelihood of surface water and well contamination. Filtration was a must.
Dr. Tempest then combined satellite imagery, the photographs and sketches of water sources from his survey and a list of supplies to determine which water sources would be targeted for testing.
Following World Health Organization guidelines`, Dr.Tempest considered as many potential water sources as possible, not just the most obvious ones. These included surface and groundwater near the groups of IDPs and tankered or bottled water brought in from a distance - though this would not be suitable for the long-term supply. The preferred source would have been groundwater, especially for the long-term, as it is sheltered from contamination and dry periods.