Written by Do Thi Da Khanh on Digilah (Student Tech Research).
About me:
Hello everyone! My name is Do Thi Da Khanh. As a second-year electrical and electronics engineering student at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, my roots stretch back to Vietnam, a country known for its natural beauty and rich cultural heritage.
Growing up in a bustling city and spending summers in the rural tranquility of my grandparent’s home, I have witnessed the stark contrast in lifestyle and environmental challenges faced by rural communities. This duality of experience has sparked my interest in addressing critical issues such as water and air quality, which are pivotal for the health and well-being of these communities.
My childhood memories are filled with the simple joys and hardships of rural living. Every summer, I have the chance to venture into the countryside, where I can immerse myself in the serene and peaceful way of life that it offers.
A vivid memory I cherish is when we had to get water from a well. Every day, my cousins and I had to carry buckets of water from the well to use for drinking and washing. We would then leave the buckets in the sun to warm up the water naturally.
One significant challenge we faced was that the water from the well wasn’t always totally clean. Sometimes, it had dirt and other stuff in it, so we had to make it clean by public water filtration in village.
I also heard stories from our neighbours about these issues, which affected their meals, but it was something they were used to in their everyday lives.
This experience has inspired me to delve deeper into water quality issues. Currently, 90% of population in Vietnam use drilled well water. Even in two major cities, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, people living in suburban areas often rely on drilled well water rather than processed water.
This well water is susceptible to contamination due to various factors and frequently fails to meet necessary biochemical standards, which negatively affect health.
For instance, water with a low pH level can harm dental health and adversely affect the stomach and digestive system, especially children.
The water problem is critical all around the world. According to World Health Organization, 292 million people with limited services, or an improved water source requiring more than 30 minutes to collect water. 296 million people taking water from unprotected wells and springs.
There are other big concerns including air pollution, especially in the vicinity of the industrial park. Exposure to air pollution leads to the inhalation of harmful particles.
These pollutants can deeply affect the lungs and cardiovascular system, leading to serious health issues like strokes, heart disease, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and various respiratory infections.
According to World Health Organization (WHO), it was estimated that 90% of the population of Vietnam is exposed to polluted air. In addition, air pollution is linked to approximately 60,000 deaths annually.
Therefore, water and air purification devices, along with quality testing equipment, play a significant role. Fortunately, in Vietnam, there are air quality monitoring stations in every province. Additionally, there are filtration stations for drilled well water in each village. Some households also invest in private water purification systems.
Even though in most rural areas of Vietnam, individuals and communities have access to individual or communal water and air purifiers, as well as quality testing devices, a big problem is the lack of concern among rural inhabitants regarding pollution and health risks.
They rarely use quality testing machines and often mingle closely with their natural surroundings. In my family, my cousins regularly drink water directly from rivers without hesitation, which is concerning.
Consequently, I am motivated to find solutions to mitigate these problems.
While I was thinking about these ideas, I came up with a plan to make a special application. This application would do many things to help keep an eye on the water and air.
It would remind people to track measurements every month and give essential information and alerts about health. It would also help them contact the local authorities if there’s a problem with the water or air.
The design of this application ensures affordability, keeping the costs minimal so that it remains accessible to most households in rural Vietnam’s rural regions. With digital information received from testing stations and private devices, this application can easily integrate other information such as the standard, the reminders, contact information, etc.
A key strength of this approach is to enhance the awareness of countryside residents about pollution and health protection.
Regular monitoring of air and water quality, coupled with reminders about the health risks associated with these issues, will likely lead to increased concern and attention from the community towards environmental health matters.
By narrowing the divide between rural lifestyles and modern technology, we can actively contribute to a healthier and more sustainable future for these beloved rural communities, while also creating subtle shifts in the daily habits of their residents.
Đỗ Thị Dạ Khánh (@da_khanh29) • Instagram photos and videos
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References:
https://tuoitre.vn/co-nen-tiep-tuc-dung-nuoc-gieng-khoan-o-khu-vuc-do-thi-hoa-202212032248446.htm
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