June 2025: Empowering Schools with Clean Water Access
- Jul 16, 2025
- 6 min read
Updated: 6 days ago
Saigon Watershed Progress and Partnerships: June Highlights from Gravity Water Vietnam
June was a milestone month for Gravity Water Vietnam, with new systems installed, strategic partnerships formed, and meaningful field visits that reinforced the impact of our work.
Saigon Watershed Expansion
Six new clean water systems were installed across two districts and Thu Duc City, raising the total number of completed systems under the Saigon Watershed Project to 21. In Can Gio District, 25 additional systems were approved by the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee on June 11, with planning meetings held shortly after to prepare for implementation starting in early August.
New Partnership with ASSIST Asia
A promising new collaboration with ASSIST Asia launched in June. Gravity Water began water assessments at 20 schools identified by ASSIST, with the goal of providing customized clean water solutions. Based on results, ASSIST aims to procure at least 10 new systems from Cloudwell to ensure safe drinking water access in selected schools.
Field Visit – Delegation from UAE Government and GIFT
Hosted by UNICEF, Gravity Water Vietnam had the honor of supporting a field visit for a delegation of 24 representatives from the UAE Government Leaders Programme and the Global Institute For Tomorrow (GIFT) during their visit to Dien Bien Province on June 17.
The visit formed part of broader efforts to strengthen climate-resilient access to safe drinking water for vulnerable schools and communities in northern Vietnam through collaboration between UNICEF, Gravity Water, and local stakeholders. The activity also marked a strong and growing collaboration between UNICEF and Gravity Water in advancing sustainable, community-centered water solutions in climate-vulnerable areas.
During the visit, the delegation explored Gravity Water’s rainwater harvesting and filtration systems, witnessing firsthand how nature-based solutions combined with modern technology are improving access to safe, reliable drinking water for schools and communities—particularly those affected by climate change.
The field visit highlighted the real-world impact of the partnership on children’s health, education, and community resilience, while also providing a meaningful opportunity for dialogue on scalable and sustainable solutions for climate-resilient development.
Gong Cha Vietnam Visit
In Hoa Binh Province, the Senior Marketing Director of Gong Cha UK visited both a recently installed and a long-standing Gravity Water system. Interviews with teachers and students highlighted improvements in hygiene, school attendance, and daily routines, further validating the value of Gong Cha’s support.
Stakeholder Workshop Highlights Clean Water Success in Dien Bien
As part of the ongoing collaboration between UNICEF and Gravity Water to improve climate-resilient access to safe drinking water in vulnerable communities, a stakeholder workshop was convened in Dien Bien Province to share results and gather feedback on the Sustainable Rural Clean Water Program.
The workshop brought together representatives from provincial departments, schools, health authorities, and local communities to discuss the project’s impact, operational lessons, and opportunities for future expansion. The event also highlighted the growing partnership between UNICEF, Gravity Water, and local stakeholders in advancing sustainable and community-centered water solutions in northern Vietnam.
CDC Dien Bien highlighted that while the province’s water sources generally meet chemical standards, microbiological risks remain. Gravity Water’s system was commended for addressing these risks directly at the point of use. CDC recommended water testing to follow local regulations (QCĐP or QCVN6-1:2010/BYT), and encouraged periodic testing (every 6–12 months) for long-term quality assurance.
Community members reported that the systems are operating effectively, providing access to cleaner, more reliable water—even during the rainy season. Residents from surrounding hamlets are also benefiting by collecting water in portable containers. There was a strong request for additional systems in high-demand areas.
Commune authorities praised the close collaboration between Gravity Water, UNICEF, local departments, and communities throughout the project lifecycle—from assessment and community engagement to installation and operation. They recommended expanding the program to reach more households in underserved areas.
The Department of Education emphasized the project’s relevance to schools and communities, recommending further expansion and stronger community awareness efforts. They also stressed the importance of long-term maintenance planning and multi-stakeholder coordination.
School representatives have established informal teams to operate and maintain the systems. While they expressed support for their assigned roles, they proposed revisions to the draft agreement, specifically regarding responsibility for system failures and the financial burden of water testing.
The Center for Rural Water Supply and Environmental Sanitation (DoAE) reaffirmed support for the project, endorsed the gradual transfer of ownership to local stakeholders, and encouraged continued collaboration between UNICEF, Gravity Water, and local authorities to expand equitable access to safe drinking water across the province.
Looking Ahead
With continued installations, expanding partnerships, and strong donor engagement, Gravity Water Vietnam remains committed to building a future where every child has access to safe, sustainable drinking water.
Locally Fabricated RainBoxes in Indonesia
June brought exciting momentum for Gravity Water’s collaboration with Happy Hearts Indonesia (HHI) in West Java empowering schools with clean water access.
Danny Wright, Founder and Executive Director of Gravity Water, traveled to Jakarta to oversee the production of the first RainBox system fabricated entirely in-country. This achievement marks an important step in combining local expertise with Gravity Water’s expertise and Cloudwell’s innovative technology.
With the initial system now completed, the next phase involves manufacturing the first 10 RainBox units over the coming weeks in preparation for installation. The team is focused on maintaining high-quality production standards to ensure the systems can reliably deliver rainwater harvesting and storage benefits to schools for the long term.
Looking ahead, Danny Wright will return to Jakarta before the end of the month to oversee the full installation process alongside newly trained crews. The plan is to mobilize three dedicated installation teams capable of completing six to eight systems per week, positioning the initiative to scale quickly and efficiently.
Community Impact in the past 30 days
Nepal: 2 new installations, 20 site surveys for new installations, and 25 site surveys completed for system updates
Vietnam: 6 new installations, workshops, and site visits
Malaysia: 14 schools completed site assessments
Malaysia: 11 schools attended the education program
Indonesia: Completed site assessments at 68x schools
Indonesia: Selected the first 10x schools for installation late July
Empowering Schools with Clean Water Access in Nepal
At Gravity Water Nepal, our mission to provide clean, safe drinking water to students and teachers across the country continues to gain momentum. Over the past month, our dedicated team has made substantial progress, not only expanding our reach but also enhancing the performance and sustainability of our systems already in place.
Strengthening Existing Infrastructure
One of our major focuses this season was on strengthening schools funded by Community Impact Collaborators (CIC). We prepared a detailed action plan to guide needed updates and improvements. This included a comprehensive site survey and budgeting process at 25 schools, paving the way for upcoming upgrades.
In parallel, we conducted site, baseline, and build overview surveys at another 20 schools under the World Centric Project. These critical early steps will ensure the next phase of implementation is informed, efficient, and aligned with each school’s unique needs.
System Maintenance at Scale
Maintenance is key to performance, and our monthly monitoring program revealed 55 schools that were not meeting our performance benchmarks. Our team stepped in and completed maintenance work at all 55 schools, optimizing each system’s functionality. These improvements will significantly enhance the user experience for hundreds of students and teachers, ensuring consistent and reliable access to clean drinking water.
Expanding Reach to New Districts
June also marked the successful installation of two brand-new water systems—one in Kavrepalanchok and another in Sindhupalchok. In Sindhupalchok, we proudly partnered with Concise Impact Nepal, a local non-profit organization, to bring rainwater harvesting and filtration technology to a school serving more than 450 students and teachers.
Looking Ahead
From in-depth surveys and smart planning to hands-on maintenance and powerful local partnerships, GW Nepal is investing in both the longevity and scalability of clean water access in schools. Each project and partnership brings us one step closer to a future where every student can learn, grow, and thrive without the burden of water insecurity.
Stay tuned for more updates as we continue this important journey to empower more schools with clean water access.
Thank you to our Gravity Water team for sharing your stories and statistics.
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