Continued community impact beyond the completion of the Taiwan initiative installations
Gravity Water has officially completed the installation of all 48 rainwater harvesting systems in Taiwan, marking a significant achievement in the organization’s first large-scale urban rainwater harvesting initiative. With systems fully operational across Taipei and Changhua counties, this milestone highlights the potential for rainwater harvesting to support long-term water resilience in densely populated regions.
This success would not have been possible without the dedicated efforts of Gravity Water’s in-country partners, the Environmental Ethics Foundation of Taiwan (EEFT) and CLEAN International. Their collaboration ensured seamless integration into schools, aligning installations with sustainability goals while fostering environmental awareness among students and educators.
Now, Gravity Water is shifting focus to long-term maintenance and data monitoring. A comprehensive monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) system is being developed to track system performance and measure impact. Since installation, the rainwater harvesting systems have collectively harvested and utilized 2,915,000 liters of rainwater. EEFT has also launched new educational efforts, installing posters near first flush systems to help students better understand rainwater harvesting.
In recognition of World Water Day this week, Gravity Water is planning interactive events for corporate sponsors to visit schools, engage with students, and see the systems in action. These efforts will help build further investment in sustainable water solutions and expand the impact of rainwater harvesting in urban areas.
Installing new rainwater harvest systems in Vietnam comes with new challenges and new opportunities
In February, Gravity Water installed new rainwater harvest systems at ten schools in Dien Bien. These installs benefit 3,730 new students, teachers, and school staff with an on-site consistent source of clean water and educate the community.
Due to challenges in securing project approvals in the Saigon Watershed area, Gravity Water Vietnam has been exploring alternative implementation approaches. This includes collaboration with CNCF in Can Gio District (HCMC), VUFO, and PACCOM for Tay Ninh Province, as well as the Social Security Center and the Child Rights Association in HCMC.
Another delay. The Department of Planning and Investment (DPI) has requested the Can Gio District People’s Committee to revise the initial project timeline to begin later in 2025 (previous documents stated 2024) and resubmit the plan for project approval. Once approved, this project will provide on-site rainwater harvesting and filtration systems at 25 schools.
Despite these and similar project permission and approval delays, Gravity Water Vietnam is optimistic we will have another impactful year and an even stronger collaboration with the community.
Global community impact in the past 30 days
Completion of Taiwan initiative with 48 new installations and continued monitoring and maintenance plan in place
New projects are scheduled to begin in Indonesia next month
Ten new installs in Vietnam, positively impacting over 3730 community members
Expanding rainwater harvesting across Malaysia
Gravity Water’s rainwater harvesting initiative in Kelantan continues to make steady progress, with a total of 38 rainwater harvesting systems installed to date. These installations currently benefit 22,248 students and 1,944 teachers, providing much-needed water security in schools facing frequent water shortages.
To date, the rainwater harvesting systems in Kelantan have collectively harvested 1,417,000 liters of rainwater, with 438,000 liters of clean water provided through UV filtration. Alongside new installations, the team remains committed to ensuring the longevity of existing systems through routine maintenance and performance monitoring.
Building on its success in Kelantan, Gravity Water has launched a new rainwater harvesting initiative in Johor Bahru, to install 14 systems in schools across the region. The project is already gaining traction, with 14 schools passing the initial pre-assessment survey, two schools undergoing site assessments, and four schools participating in an educational program engaging 594 students and 35 teachers.
To support this expansion, Cloudwell Water Technologies is establishing its installation crew in Johor, with system installations set to begin in April 2025. This marks an important step in Gravity Water’s efforts to scale its impact across Malaysia, bringing reliable rainwater harvesting solutions to more schools in need.
Gravity Water launches new rainwater harvesting initiative in Indonesia
Gravity Water is excited to announce the launch of its newest rainwater harvesting initiative in Indonesia, focusing on the Citarum Watershed in West Java located approximately 65km east of Jakarta. This pilot program aims to install 50 rainwater harvesting systems in schools across the region, helping to address ongoing water security challenges.
To bring this initiative to life, Gravity Water has partnered with CLEAN International and Happy Hearts Indonesia (HHI), an organization dedicated to rebuilding schools with eco-friendly materials made from recycled plastic waste, creating sustainable learning environments for children in need. Since its founding, HHI has rebuilt over 345 schools, impacting the lives of more than 95,000 children across Indonesia.
Currently, Gravity Water and HHI are working closely to train the HHI team on Gravity Water’s process for site assessments and school outreach, leveraging their strong relationships with local schools to identify priority districts for installations. By combining Gravity Water’s expertise in rainwater harvesting with HHI’s deep-rooted connections in the region, this initiative will ensure that schools most in need gain access to a reliable, climate-resilient water source.
Stay tuned as we share updates on this exciting new chapter!
Thank you to our Gravity Water team for your contributing stories and statistics.
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