Eco-tipping Points are levers for restoring sustainability to our imperiled environment which is a small actions or implementation that tip the balance from decline to restoration by tapping the inborn power of nature societies to heal them.
For me, my project focus on greener water treatment plant process, I have to identify what are the main problems in the existing water treatment plant facility and to come out with a better and more environmental friendly solution to achieve the goal. So my Eco-tipping Points here is the solution and the step for providing solutions to the problems and helps to achieve better environment. We need a good plan and strategy to overcome the problem. In my project, I study on how I can make changes to the method used for treating the water. It might look something which is not important and doesn’t involve the community, but all in all water is the basic unit of life for all organisms. The water which is taken directly from the watershed like stream or river, will be needed to undergo further treatment where some chemicals are mixed together to clump and make all the impurities and small particles to sink at the bottom which later forming into hazardous byproduct compound known as sludge. There are many alternatives to counter with sludge disposal however most of it is expensive. I have the chance to visit several environmental conservation center like The Board of Water Supply, Roth Ecological Design International Natural Systems Technologies and Hawai’i Institute of Marine Biology which helps me to see and widened my view on more environmental friendly ways and even cheaper to treat water without undergoing practices and existing treatment methods which may pollute our environment in a long term. Basically, from my reading on the Eco-Tipping Point : Strategies for Shifting from Decline to Restoration, there are six ingredients which actually help me to achieve success for my project. There are : 1) Outside Stimulation and Facilitation Many people in Malaysia are now started to use and install several equipments for water filtration in their houses in order to get a clean and safe water. At the same time, there is a great concern now on protecting the environment in Malaysia. The idea is that all Malaysian are moving towards green and this generate and stimulate the importance of protecting environment in all aspect including water. 2) Strong Local Institution and enduring commitment of Local Leadership In my project, I have a good collaboration with the company who involve in the water treatment and they are really supportive to ensure that they can provide the best ways to treat the water without polluting the environment. 3) Transforming Waste into Resources. Instead of producing hazardous waste like sludge where a lot of money has been invested to treat it to ensure that it is safe and polluting the environment, we can transform the waste into resources like fpr example use the produced sludge as a basic foundation for construction materials. 4) Rapid Result Once this project succeed where the problems are solved, it will initiate the other mostly the community and the organization who works in the same field to assimilate and apply the same method to solve the problem. 5) Social Memory Sometimes we can learn and adapt the knowledge of the past to help us solve any problems. One thing that we need always bare in mind, how can the people in the past live without polluting the environment? They must have a secret way to do that. 6) Overcoming Social Obstacles Every project will face a lot of obstacles in the way before it can reach and accomplish the goal. Some of the social obstacles are expensive alternatives which hindered them to use it, country regulations and others. What is important is that, you have to understand, provide the best solution and justify it to ensure the goal can be accomplished. I believe, when I reach my goal to help my partner meeting the most practical and best environmental friendly way to protect our environment, at the same time I have the opportunity to help my community to acquire clean potable water for daily uses as well as helps in order to protect the environment. Also the project will be incorporated in the campaign to educate the public on environment by the company during events like campaign and others. |