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Empowering Indigenous Communities: Access to Clean Water Initiatives

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23 Mar 2024

5 Min Read

Taylor's Impact Lab (Clean Technology)

IN THIS ARTICLE

Water plays numerous critical roles in our daily lives, ranging from functional value in the human body to the earth’s climate regulation. On an everyday level, I am grateful to have clean water readily accessible in my home, enabling me to effortlessly pour it from the tap and brew a delightful morning coffee to enjoy. However, how many others share this privilege?

 

In conjunction with World Water Day celebrated annually on 22 March which aims to raise awareness and inspire action to tackle the water and sanitation crisis, we take a closer look at home. In Malaysia, the scarcity of access to clean water remains a big challenge for our indigenous communities. Malaysia’s Department of Statistics has reported that 53% of Orang Asli communities lack access to clean piped water.

 

Numerous initiatives undertaken by both government bodies and NGOs aim to address United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) concerning clean water and sanitation. However, for countless indigenous communities residing in remote areas, this remains inaccessible. Additionally, despite prior assistance from NGOs and the government, many systems have failed to maintain their effectiveness in providing both potable and non-potable water sources in the long run.

The Green Haven Project: A Beacon of Hope

In a remote area in Pahang, indigenous residents of Kg. Bukit Biru, Muadzam Shah, rely on water sourced from a swamp area and a rainwater catchment tank provided by an NGO for their daily needs. However, the accumulation of significant residue from the surrounding environment has led to blockages and water contamination in the rainwater gutter system and storage system, leading to sanitation and health concerns.

 

Seeing the gravity of such issues, Taylor’s University’s Clean Technology Impact Lab started the ‘Green Haven’ project. Done in collaboration with the Global Peace Foundation, this project aims to build a sustainable and affordable system for villages to access water and energy.

 

Through the project, an enhanced gutter system supplemented with a custom pre-filter was introduced, designed to seamlessly integrate onto household roofs. This pre-filter effectively screens out contaminants such as leaves, plant debris, silt, and other undesirable residues, significantly reducing their ingress into the gutter system.

Students installing the water gutters
prototype for the water gutters

An additional filtration system at the storage tanks was also installed to further improve the efficiency of providing debris-free water for non-potable usage within the indigenous communities. This has significantly enhanced the water storage for a longer term.

Students installing the water gutters
prototype for the water gutters

In addition, a solar education hub was established for children of indigenous communities to contribute towards the advancement of clean energy systems. While efforts are underway, additional material and resource provisions are required to further refine water quality to suit the needs of our indigenous communities in Malaysia. An innovative, cost-effective, and sustainable approach towards system designs requiring minimal to zero maintenance is essential for addressing water scarcity issues among our communities.

 

Collaborative endeavours encompassing diverse stakeholders are vital for advancing water quality for our indigenous communities. With this, it enables us to equip our indigenous communities with the resources, knowledge, and support needed to tackle water challenges, resulting in enhanced health, economic opportunities, and the overall welfare of these communities.

Ts. Lithnes Kalaivani Palniandy is the Project Leader for ‘Green Haven’ under the Clean Technology Impact Lab at Taylor’s University, Malaysia. The ‘Green Haven’ project has been working with the Orang Asli tribe to provide a sustainable, affordable system to access clean water and energy for the village.

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