Logistical challenges and strategies for drinking water supply in times of crisis

Purpose This paper addresses the logistical challenges of ensuring a potable water supply in crisis management, with an emphasis on the role of technological innovation. Rapid access to safe drinking water is identified as a prerequisite for sustaining human health and dignity during emergencies such as natural disasters and armed conflicts. Design/methodology/approach The study identifies and evaluates five mobile water treatment technologies suitable for deployment in crisis scenarios. The evaluation is based on a systematic selection framework and conducted through the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) according to Saaty's method, which applies pairwise comparisons to determine the relative importance of predefined criteria. Findings The analysis highlights the effectiveness of mobile water treatment units in addressing critical logistical issues such as distribution efficiency, storage capacity and water quality assurance. The relevance of these results is particularly evident in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), where geopolitical instability and the war in Ukraine have exposed critical vulnerabilities in water infrastructure and emergency logistics systems. The findings confirm that advanced mobile solutions, capable of rapid deployment and adaptation to diverse environmental conditions, represent a viable means of securing a safe water supply where conventional infrastructure is disrupted or absent. Originality/value This paper contributes an AHP-based decision-support framework that links the technical performance of mobile water treatment units with crisis logistics requirements, enabling more effective deployment planning and resource allocation. Future research should focus on validating the framework across different crisis scenarios and examining the sensitivity of results to operational and logistical priority changes.