We are pleased to announce that we have concluded the construction phase at the MNU Gan campus, marking a significant milestone in our technical progress. The most exciting development is that we have finalized the construction of our complete filtration prototype. We opted for a design that utilizes a first-flush system alongside two sediment tanks; the first-flush system captures the initial, sediment-heavy rainwater using a sealing ball mechanism, effectively blocking it from entering the rest of the system. We have successfully tested this setup using hose water, and we are thrilled to report that it functions exactly as designed
With the prototype working, our focus has shifted to constructing the sediment tank. We have acquired two storage tanks to serve as the first and second phases of filtration; the first will settle larger sediments, while the second will filter finer particles. Although bad weather caused some shipping delays, the necessary materials arrived from Malé, including coarse and fine gravel, fine sand, activated charcoal, and cotton cloth. We have assembled these layers and have used flexible PVC pipes for the connections, ensuring we can easily unscrew them to change the filters.
Life on the island has been eventful beyond the technical work. Our collaboration with the Maldives National University (MNU) remains strong, and we recently enjoyed a lunch with the campus staff to strengthen our bond with those who help us daily in the greenhouse. However, we have faced local challenges, including heavy rains that briefly hindered physical progress and forced us to focus on our reporting assignments instead. Furthermore, a fire broke out at the local power plant, damaging engines and cutting off supplies to the island. Fortunately, our electricity and water were restored the same evening. Despite these hurdles, we are very proud to have co-created with the locals to complete our project.
UPDATE II: Drop by Drop Maldives
