A muddy journey in Nepal
On July 15, 2024, our Nepal team, led by District Manager Tejendra Thapa, faced significant challenges while traveling to Satmul Secondary School in Namobuddha Municipality. We were heading there to hand over and conduct a training program after completing the installation of a new system. The journey was particularly difficult due to the heavy rains of the Nepali monsoon season.
The road to the school was an 8 km dirt track and took us two hours to navigate. While on our journey, we encountered a landslide, and the road conditions worsened. A bus had gotten stuck, blocking the way. Local residents were attempting to pull the bus free, and we joined in, helping to move it with ropes. After much collaborative effort, we managed to clear the road.
Despite the challenging road conditions, including our two-wheeler slipping near the cliff edge in several places, we persevered and finally reached the school. Upon arrival, we finalized the handoff and provided educational materials and training. The school representatives expressed gratitude and appreciation for our dedication, timely project completion, and thorough training to support the continued maintenance of their new clean water rainwater harvesting system.
Landslides and new initiatives for community impact in the past 30 days
20 new projects were completed in Nepal bringing clean water to over 3745 students.
New Rainwater Harvesting Pilot Initiatives gained 785 new beneficiaries in Malaysia and 6403 in Taiwan.
Visits to 14 existing systems in Hoa Binh province in Vietnam provided necessary continued maintenance while school children enjoyed summer break.
During the staff meeting in Vietnam, we strategized and prepared to update our Education Program for Schools and Operations and Maintenance videos for upcoming projects.
The Taiwan Rainwater Harvesting Pilot Initiative gains 6403 new beneficiaries in July
The Taiwan Rainwater Harvesting Pilot Initiative is a first for Gravity Water. Launched in early 2024, this new initiative marks our first landslide collaboration with schools in an urban city center. Taipei, renowned for its top-tier infrastructure and strong commitment to environmental sustainability, is the perfect setting for this innovative initiative. School administrators here are already familiar with the concept of rainwater harvesting and are enthusiastic about reducing groundwater usage, striving towards their ambitious goal of achieving zero net water usage.
Our dedicated local partner organization, the Environmental Ethics Foundation of Taiwan (EEFT), has been instrumental in making this project a reality. From the outset, EEFT and Gravity Water have worked hand-in-hand to identify interested schools, explain the benefits of rainwater harvesting, and oversee the installation of these new rainwater harvesting systems.
This project owes its success to many individuals who have shown remarkable dedication and support.
The Malaysia Rainwater Harvesting Pilot Initiative significantly improves water quality for 785 students and teachers at the Teratak Pula Secondary School
The Rainwater Harvesting Pilot Initiative in Malaysia is being carried out in the state of Kelantan, an area known for its inconsistent water quality and supply. In many schools throughout the region, our team observed high turbidity levels in the traditional groundwater supply, posing significant challenges for daily use and students' health.
At the Teratak Pula Secondary School, the water situation has improved significantly since they began using Gravity Water’s treated rainwater exclusively for their kitchen services. This shift has had a profound impact, as many families rely on the school's kitchen to provide their children with nutritious meals every day. The school administrator noted that they no longer need to purchase 50 liters of water daily for canteen cooking.Â
This change translates to saving approximately 233 plastic water bottles every week, which amounts to an estimated savings of USD 38.50 weekly. Over a year, this initiative at the Teratak Pulal Secondary School will have conserved ~12,132 plastic water bottles and saved the school approximately USD 2,000.
The benefits of the Malaysia Rainwater Harvesting Pilot Initiative extend beyond financial savings and environmental impact. It also provides a reliable and sustainable water source, ensuring that students have access to clean water for their daily needs.
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