Recently there has been news regarding the distribution of free water filtration device to the orang asli villages.

Kudos to the Rural and Regional Development Ministry for implementing the necessary efforts and measures to provide safe drinking water to the rural area folks especially to the orang asli communities. 

According to the news report, 50 rural villages nationwide will be the beneficiaries of 1,010 water filters from the ministry.

The water filter provided is hassle-free as it does not require electricity or chemical for the filtration process.

However, a quick search on the Internet and the website of the water filter shows that few precautionary measures need to be taken to make sure that the water filter works as intended.

As the water filter contains an activated carbon block filter, it needs to be changed after 250 liters of use if the pre-treated water contains chemical residues, heavy metals or other endocrine system disruptive compounds.

On the other hand, the water filter system will automatically shut down whenever it reaches the limit. Further filtration process will not take place and the water is not treated.

Therefore, the ministry should have a follow-up and education program in place for the next few years as this water filter system is not the sole and long term solution in order to address the water woes faces by rural communities.

Replacement of the filters and other parts in the water filter system must be done on a timely manner to avoid consumption of untreated water consume by the beneficiaries.

The looming seasonal floods calls the readiness of disaster relief centres to cope with demand for clean and safe drinking water supply.

Disaster relief authorities and agencies should consider similar water filter system as one of the option to provide clean and safe drinking water to flood victims in disaster relief centres.