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Mekong Institute

STAGE 07 / PROTECT · DELIVERABLES #13 & #14

Build protection.
Keep it working.

Community treatment that can be maintained locally. Membrane capability that grows from tested ideas into a reliable local supply.

Explore the 2027–2029 work plan ↓
07 / PROTECT · EXPLORE THE CUTAWAYS

Inside community water innovation.

Interactive concept

A serviceable system. Built around local needs.

Cut open the treatment unit and follow the water through five barriers.

3D cutaway concept of a community treatment unit with sand and gravel, iron-coated adsorptive media, activated carbon, disinfection and protected storage13 / CUTAWAY VIEW
Step 1 of 5

FOLLOW THE WATER

Select each treatment step using verified source-water results. This conceptual unit is not a certified product or a construction specification.View illustration ↗

DELIVERABLE #13 / FROM KIT TO COMMUNITY SERVICE

Designed for local assembly.
Supported for the long term.

A modular approach uses serviceable tanks, replaceable media and standard fittings. Local workshops assemble the system to an engineered design; trained operators maintain it with a laboratory behind them.

01

Test the source

Identify the intended water use and actual contaminants. Assess seasonal changes, demand, access, power and the available operator.

02

Assemble the right kit

Specify suitable vessels, qualified sand and adsorptive media, valves, disinfection, protected storage and sample ports. Use a supervised local assembly team.

03

Commission with evidence

Compare raw and treated water, verify flow and treatment performance, and train the operator before releasing the service for its intended use.

04

Fund the service

Plan media replacement, consumables, maintenance and residuals disposal. Share test results and service status with the community.

DELIVERABLE #14 / A LOCAL MEMBRANE SUPPLY CHAIN

Research. Make. Test.
Deliver. Learn.

Develop a membrane centre with a laboratory, pilot fibre manufacturing, module assembly, quality testing and distribution. Connect community field performance back to the production team.

START WITH A TEST BENCH

Prove the application

Define the source-water challenge, test reference membranes and establish technical capability in a host laboratory.

Evidence: accepted testing method
DEVELOP PILOT CAPABILITY

Make repeatable trial lots

Develop controlled fibre production and assembly trials. Secure technical rights, training, utilities and process-waste management.

Evidence: traceable trial modules
MOVE TO FEASIBLE PRODUCTION

Release on verified quality

Validate the product, operating cost, demand and service network before committing to commercial manufacturing scale.

Evidence: a viable production decision

The centre illustration is a target facility concept. Ultrafiltration does not remove dissolved chemicals such as arsenic; treatment selection may require additional adsorption or an appropriate NF/RO process. Treatment capabilities · CDC ↗

ONE FRAMEWORK / COLLECTIVE DELIVERY

Local ownership.
Regional knowledge.

Bring research, industry, development partners and community operators together under the Lao National Water Quality Innovation Strategy. Build on existing support and share test facilities, evidence and training.

LAO IMPLEMENTATION

Community & national teams

Lead source assessments, choose pilot communities, host the laboratory, assemble and maintain systems, and publish verified results in the national data hub.

Local ownership · shared results
PROSPECTIVE COLLABORATION

NANOTEC Thailand

Explore collaboration on treatment media, material testing and locally serviceable filtration prototypes, drawing on NANOTEC's documented community water-purification research.

NANOTEC water research ↗
PROSPECTIVE COLLABORATION

PUB Singapore

Explore technical exchange, pilot evaluation, operator training and connections to the membrane research and industry ecosystem. Develop manufacturing and licensing arrangements with qualified technology partners.

PUB research & development ↗

Partner roles are invitations for discussion; no signed partnership, funding or technology transfer is represented. PUB is a prospective knowledge and testing partner, not an assumed membrane manufacturer.

RESULT-BASED / TANGIBLE / DEPLOYMENT-DRIVEN

Deploy in 2027.
Sustain through 2029.

Start with working pilots, expand on evidence and build local ownership. These are programme target milestones, linked to the shared national roadmap.

DELIVERABLE #13

Community treatment deployment

Deploy

Commission the first treatment demonstration where need is verified, with baseline results and a trained operator.

Connect

Complete the agreed expansion of justified treatment demonstrations, record before-and-after results and establish local operating arrangements.

Sustain

Complete an independent evaluation of sustained treatment outcomes, publish the demonstration findings and accept handover of the agreed systems with trained operators and funded maintenance.

Trained local operators sustain the accepted systems with supplies, maintenance and continuing water-quality verification.

DELIVERABLE #14

Membrane capability development

Deploy

Activate an initial membrane test bench and training service at a confirmed host facility.

Connect

Commission the centre for membrane testing, operator training and assembly trials with technical partners.

Sustain

Complete assembly trials and product-quality assessment, validate the centre’s testing and assembly capability, and issue a documented decision on feasible local production with an accepted operating plan.

The centre continues testing, training and accepted assembly services; any further production expansion follows the documented feasibility decision.

View all 14 deliverables and deadlines