A Universiti Putra Malaysia's (UPM) technology is making world news.

Professor Dr Rahinah Ibrahim led researchers from UPM and Universiti Malaysia Sabah in a demonstration project at Lok Urai Village at Gaya Island, Sabah. The project, a joint collaboration between the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and NGO ACT Malaysia, had chosen UPM’s ISTP wastewater treatment technology to stop untreated sewage from polluting the ocean. Ten tanks were installed at nine water homes and one school.

“The UNEP-funded pilot is a successful example of an alternative and low-cost technology for wastewater treatment, economic development and community empowerment, and has great potential for large-scale replication,” says Riccardo Zennaro, a UNEP expert involved with the project.

The tanks are practical for facing natural geographical challenges presented at tropical floating villages. The project benefits 1,153 water homes and trained ten fishermen in installing and maintaining them. The project’s best unintended consequence came from the school’s headmistress who reported, “the students are happier and wanting to attend school.”

Such a profound validation when the ISTP technology (SDG6) intended to conserve life below water (SDG14) for better health and well-being (SDG3) could provide lifelong learning opportunities to children (SDG4) while upholding dignity to women and girls (SDG5). Working in partnership with many entities (SDG17) to provide new sanitation infrastructure (SDG9), many floating villagers can expect to earn better incomes (SDG1) through decent work (SDG8) and avoid hunger (SDG2) through capacity building for sustaining floating communities (SDG11) in response to affects of climate change (SDG13).

Figure 1: New ocean landscape for a floating village with ISTP tank installed

(Source: ACT Malaysia)

Figure 2: Professor Rahinah with the first ISTP tank installed at Lok Urai Village

(Source: ACT Malaysia)

Date of Input: 19/08/2021 | Updated: 23/09/2021 | arizy