ABOUT THE PROJECT
The Surfrider Foundation Australia is a non-governmental organization focussed on coastal environmental issues. Moerk Water and the Surfrider Foundation identified a school in Nusa Lembongan where the students’ main drinking water supply was distributed in single-use plastic bottles. The students have limited drinking water and plastic waste from single-use plastics is causing serious environmental issues all along the coastline in Indonesia. The Surfrider Foundation, with input from Moerk Water, won a Friendship grant from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to deliver a seawater desalination unit to the school. Moerk Water designed and constructed a solar powered seawater desalination system for the school. The unit is solar powered, easy to use and runs at a low recovery rate to have minimal effect on the environment.The unit was ready for delivery as COVID-19 lockdowns occurred across Indonesia. In response to the lockdowns, Moerk Water partnered with the Australian Navy to get the machine delivered to Nusa Lembongan. At the end of 2021, the machine was successfully delivered to the school and is ready to start producing water. In addition to supplying the water treatment unit, Moerk Water has also run environmental training courses with the school.
Project Outcomes:
- Students at a school in Nusa Lembongan relied on drinking water supplied in single use plastic bottles
- Moerk Water designed and constructed a solar powered seawater desalination to deliver drinking water to the students
- Moerk Water partnered with the Australian Navy to get the water unit delivered during the COVID-19 lockdowns
- Solar powered seawater desalination unit has been installed a the school in Nusa Lembongan and is now providing the students with WHO standard drinking water.
- Moerk Water also provided children at the school in Nusa Lembongan with reusable water bottles to reduce plastic waste created through single use plastic
