UNICEF Vietnam, Masterise Group will bring Aquonic zero-emission toilet model to Soc Trang

The Aquonic zero-emission toilet model will soon be deployed by UNICEF Vietnam and Masterise Group in Soc Trang under the project “Innovation for Children – Initiative to change the future”.

Representatives of SCG Thailand and UNICEF Vietnam introduced Aquonic – a zero-emission toilet model that will soon be installed in Soc Trang

Lack of clean water remains a major challenge affecting children all over the world – not just Vietnam. Clean water, sanitation and personal hygiene (WASH) are core elements of Vietnam's human resource development and growth engine. According to UNICEF Viet Nam, more than 80% of schools across the country have clean water and sanitation facilities, but the quality of many works is not guaranteed or has deteriorated. Therefore, UNICEF always cooperates with the government and the private sector, striving to achieve the sustainable development goals of clean water and sanitation – the most recent example is a project in cooperation with Masterise Group.

“Net Zero Aquonic” is a greenhouse gas-free wastewater treatment model consisting of compact treatment tanks with many components, which can turn wastewater from septic tanks into clean, germ-free water and can reuse for irrigation or toilet flushing. The treatment system is operated entirely by clean energy from solar cells. In Vietnam, this initiative will be piloted and installed by UNICEF at Long Phu C Primary School (Soc Trang) within the framework of “Innovation for Children – Initiative to change the future”.

As the name suggests, “Change the Future Initiative” hopes to create a safe, healthy and sustainable living environment for Vietnamese children through innovative technology, energy and clean water initiatives. Seven months after the cooperation signing ceremony, representatives of Masterise Group and UNICEF Vietnam went to Soc Trang to assess the situation, organize a meeting to consult with children and people. During this trip, the project introduced to the locality for the first time about the zero-emission toilet initiative that has been successfully implemented in Thailand and some other countries.

The first Aquonic project in Thailand (pictured above). The area is expected to install the first works at Long Phu C Primary School, Soc Trang Province (photo below)

According to information from the "Innovation for Children" project, this zero-emission toilet was first installed in 2019 in a low-income residential area in Bangkok. Meeting the requirements of ISO 30500, the system achieved surprising results: up to 91% reduction in total suspended solids and 99.99% reduction in E.coli bacteria for the wastewater treatment stage.

Long Phu C Primary School currently has 200 students and teachers and is expected to install an Aquonic tank system to meet sanitation needs. Sharing at the meeting, local representatives expressed their appreciation and excitement when this initiative will be deployed for the first time in the province. “After meeting and being introduced by experts to successful Aquonic applications in Thailand, Indonesia, South Africa and India, we are looking forward to this initiative being installed and put into use soon. used to improve hygiene and learning conditions for teachers and students," shared Mr. Diep Thanh Hai, Principal of Long Phu C Primary School.

Mr. Jason Turnbull, Deputy General Director of Masterise Homes, representative of Masterise Group shared: “The goal of Innovation for Children is to address the root of the urgent problem: climate change and children through long-term initiatives. term. This zero-emission toilet model to be tested in Soc Trang is one of the first initiatives. We hope this model will be successfully tested, thereby creating a premise to be replicated throughout Vietnam in the future.”

Representative of UNICEF Vietnam and Masterise Group during a field trip to meet and consult with people and students in Soc Trang

Also at the meeting, representatives of stakeholders from the central level and Soc Trang province signed a contract on the responsibilities of each party in the operation, maintenance and maintenance of the system after installation as well as personnel. model expansion after evaluating the effect. This is also the point that creates the "sustainability" of the "Innovation for Children" project. Sustainability is when efforts do not stop at the step of creating initiatives, but also solving problems in the long term by mobilizing resources and making specific commitments so that all parties can join hands for a future. better.

After the trip to meet and work with the locality, UNICEF Viet Nam is now taking the necessary steps to build and upgrade sanitation and clean water facilities and activities to build capacity and transfer technology. for local, school and community communication. The activities are expected to be completed in 2023.

“Innovation for Children – Initiative to change the future” is a project under the program “Build a Better Future” implemented by Masterise Group since April 2022. Up to now, the program has been implementing 26 projects with a total beneficiaries of more than 1 million people, bringing sustainable values ​​to the community.

According to: https://theglobal.vn/