Effect of water supply: In rural areas of Gia Lai, home to communities like Gia Rai,
water scarcity in rural areas perpetuates poverty, gender inequality, and health crises,
such as skin rashes from unclear water. Some sustainable solutions aim to ensure
equitable access to clean water and improve quality of life. However, achieving these
outcomes requires urgent investment, education, and infrastructure support to
overcome challenges.
Design idea: Nano-membrane Filtering system
Technologies used:
+ Nano-membrane Filtration
+ Pre-filtration system
Device used:
+ Nano-membrane water filter unit
+ Sensor to detect water quality
+ Solar panels if using solar-powered filtration system
+ Storage Tanks
Approaches implemented:
+ Assessing the water contamination issue(Analyse)
+ Filter out bacteria, viruses, heavy metal, and turbidity(Reduce)
+ Prevent waterborne diseases through consistent clean water
process(Prevent)
Benefits:
+ Safe drinking water for the community
+ Low maintenance and long-lasting system
+ Environmentally friendly(no chemicals, minimal waste)
Impacts:
+ Reduced illness and mortality from waterborne diseases.
+ Reduced economic burden from buying bottled water or treating illness
+ Empowers community self-reliance
Guiding Principles:
+ Health & Safety: Protects people from contaminated water
+ Appropriateness: Fits local rural context; easy to use
+ Affordability: Low long-term cost, especially with NGO support
Constraints:
+ Initial cost of the filter system may be high for low-income households
+ Filters and replacement parts may be hard to become available in remote
areas.
Design idea: Seasonal hybrid filtration system
Technologies used:
+ Water filtration system: For pre-filtration step
+ Solar Water Disinfection (SODIS): the primary, free disinfection method for
the sunny season
+ UV lamp disinfection: A low cost disinfection method used in the rainy season
Device used:
+ Pre-filter unit: with the aid of a ceramic composite, which is usually enhanced
with silver; or layers of sand and gravel, it is possible to physically eliminate
turbidity (cloudiness), sediment, and larger pathogens such as bacteria and
protozoans
+ Rainwater tank: store rainwater
+ Three-Way Valve: a valve to direct water
+ Clear PET Plastic Bottles: for the SODIS process
+ Activated Carbon Filter: An assembly containing an activated carbon filter (for
taste/odor) followed by a UV lamp
+ UV Sterilizer Unit: to kill harmful bacteria and viruses in water using UV light.
Different approaches in different stages of the design idea:
+ Stage 1: Pre-filtration(Reduce):
Water from the rainwater tank first passes through the pre-filter unit.
This stage's sole purpose is to reduce turbidity, sediment, and a
majority of bacteria, ensuring the water is physically clear. This step is
critical for the effectiveness of both disinfection methods
+ Stage 2: Disinfection(Eradicate):
After pre-filtration, the user directs the water using the three-way valve
based on the season/weather:
- In the dry season(from November to April): Water is directed to an
outdoor tap to fill PET bottles. The SODIS method then uses natural
sunlight to eradicate remaining viruses and bacteria.
- In the rainy season(from May to October): Water is directed indoors to
the UV sterilizer unit. The UV lamp provides a reliable dose of UV-C
light to eradicate all microorganisms
+ Stage 3: Safe use(Prevent):
The design promotes behaviors that prevent re-contamination. For the
SODIS path, users are encouraged to drink directly from the treated
bottles. For the UV path, water is dispensed directly from a clean tap
for immediate use
Benefits:
+ Ensures a supply of safe, reliable drinking water year-round, regardless of
weather conditions
+ Optimizes and significantly saves operational costs by utilizing free solar
energy during the dry season
+ The system provides a dependable backup (the UV lamp) for when the
primary free method isn't viable, allowing them to proactively choose the
appropriate method for the current conditions
Impacts:
+ Reduces the economic burden on households by saving money on electricity
+ Raises user awareness and knowledge about sustainable water and energy
resource management according to seasons.
+ Environmental protection by reusing plastic bottles
Guiding principles:
+ Affordability: The hybrid model is specifically designed to lower running
costs, making it suitable for rural economic conditions
+ Appropriateness: The solution is perfectly tailored to the specific local
climate (rainy/dry seasons) and living conditions of Gia Lai.
+ Health and safety: The core function of both the UV lamp and the SODIS
method is to eliminate harmful waterborne pathogens, including bacteria and
viruses.
Constraints:
+ It requires the user to have knowledge and to proactively switch the method.
+ The user is responsible for the upkeep of the entire system. This includes
regularly cleaning the pre-filter, replacing the UV lamp annually, and ensuring
the PET bottles for SODIS are clean and not overly scratched or hazy. A lack
of proper maintenance will degrade the system's performance and safety.
Digital literacy:
End user does not need any digital literacy because their only interaction is either
turning a physical tap to get treated water from the indoor system or picking up a bottle of
water that has already been treated via SODIS.
Root cause: Due to prolonged drought and intense heat, the water levels in some ponds and
natural springs have significantly declined.
Design idea: System for Excavation, Construction of an Artificial Reservoir, and
Pumping Stream Water for Storage.
Approaches:
+ Analyze: Assess terrain, water flow, and storage capacity. Identify optimal excavation
sites and pumping efficiency.
+ Reduce: Minimize construction impact, optimize reservoir size, and lower energy use
for pumping.
+ Prevent: Install filtration to avoid contamination, reinforce reservoir structure, and
manage overflow risks.
Technologies used:
-Pump technology: Solar-Powered Submersible Pumps
(Devices: Solar Panels)
function: Pump groundwater or reservoir water to treatment or storage tanks
-Control system: IoT-based water level sensors and pump controllers
(Devices: YSI or Hach sensors)
function: Automate pump operation based on reservoir water levels.
-Mini excavators:
(Devices: Kubota U17)
function: Dig trenches or pits, clear land or remove debris.
Impacts:
+ Improved water availability
+ Reduced strain on natural water sources
+ Enhanced community resilience
Guiding Principles:
+ Access & equity
+ Health & safety
+ Affordability
Benefits:
+ Provides a reliable water supply, especially during dry seasons.
+ Reduce health problems including digestion disorder.
+ Minimize the risk of shortage of water in local communities.
Constraints:
+ Requires regular maintenance to prevent breakdowns
+ Dependent on stream flow, which may decrease in dry seasons.
IMPROVEMENT: MAKE THE PUMP SYSTEM AND THE SENSORS INTO MODULAR
UNITS → MAINTENANCE → REUSE AND RECYCLING PURPOSES.
Design idea: Rainwater harvesting technology: System to collect and store
rainwater to use later on
Analyze:
- Assess local rainfall patterns, rooftop surface area, and water demand.
- Identify potential contaminants that might enter the system.
- Evaluate existing infrastructure to determine the most effective collection and
storage methods.
Reduce:
- Minimize water loss by optimizing collection and storage systems.
- Reduce dependency on external water sources by maximizing rainwater
usage.
- Use efficient filtration techniques to lower maintenance and operational costs.
Eradicate:
- Eliminate contaminants and pollutants before storage using proper filtration.
- Prevent leaks, stagnation, and bacterial growth in the tank.
- Design overflow systems to mitigate the risk of flooding or water wastage.
Predict:
- Use weather forecasting and smart sensors to anticipate rainfall and regulate
storage levels.
- Model future water consumption needs based on seasonal trends.
- Plan for system expansions or upgrades to ensure long-term reliability.
Two Technologies:
- Gravity-Based Rainwater Harvesting
Ex: Rainwater flows from the roof into the gutter, then through a pipe into the
storage tank. Thanks to gravity, the water naturally flows to the irrigation
faucet without needing a pump. Simple, energy-efficient, suitable for watering
plants or sanitation.
- Pump-Assisted Rainwater Harvesting with Treatment
Ex: Rainwater flows from the roof into the gutter, passes through a filter, then
enters the storage tank. A pump pushes the water through an additional
filtration system to remove impurities, making it cleaner and usable for various
purposes.
Three devices for rainwater harvesting systems:
- Rain Barrel (RTS Home Accents 50-Gallon Rain Barrel)
- First Flush Diverter (Rain Harvesting Systems 3P First Flush Diverter)
- UV Water Purifier (Viqua VH410 UV System)
Guiding Principles:
- Water Quality Management: Use filters (e.g., leaf screens for non-potable; UV for
potable) and regular cleaning to ensure water safety.
- System Efficiency: Design for local rainfall, roof size, and water demand to
optimize storage and usage.
- Sustainability: Prioritize durable, eco-friendly and low-energy components (e.g.,
gravity-fed or solar-powered systems) for long-term sustainability.
Three impacts:
- Environmental Conservation: Reduces groundwater depletion and runoff
- Economic Savings: Lowers water bills (30–50% for irrigation), with simple
systems recouping ideal costs in 1–5 years.
- Community Resilience: Enhances water security during droughts or outages,
especially in rural or disaster-prone areas.
Benefits
- Reduces reliance on municipal water or wells.
- Lowers water bills.
- Sustainable, especially in water-scarce areas.
- Reduces stormwater runoff, preventing erosion and flooding.
Constraints:
- Initial setup costs can be high for large systems.
- Requires regular maintenance to ensure water quality.
- Rainfall-dependent; not reliable in arid regions without large storage.
Nguon:
- Gia Lai: Hạn hán kéo dài, dân khổ trăm bề vì “khát” nước sạch - Gia Rai ở Gia
Lai
