Overview 

With rapid urbanization, securing access to clean drinking water has become a critical global priority. In Malaysia, former tin mining lakes are being repurposed as vital water reservoirs. However, a major hurdle remains: the water often carries an unpleasant "earthy" or "musty" taste caused by Geosmin and 2-MIB—natural compounds produced by specific microbes.

This collaborative project between Sunway University (Malaysia) and Hiroshima University (Japan) aims to solve this challenge through biotechnology. Rather than relying solely on expensive and energy-intensive filtration systems, we are looking to nature for a sustainable solution.

Our Approach 

By integrating Malaysia’s field expertise with Japan’s advanced genomic technologies, we are executing a three-step strategy:

• Identify the Culprits: Utilizing Metagenomic Analysis via Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) to pinpoint the exact microbial species responsible for producing odor-causing compounds.

• Isolate Beneficial Microbes: Identifying and isolating native bacteria that naturally degrade these odor compounds without disrupting the local ecosystem.

• Develop "Lake Probiotics": Creating a bio-augmentation strategy to deploy these beneficial microbes, effectively purifying the water and improving its quality in an eco-friendly manner.

Why It Matters

This project represents a breakthrough in Green Technology. By applying digital biology (bioinformatics) to understand and manage lake ecosystems, we are driving the transition toward a Circular Economy—transforming abandoned mining sites into sustainable, high-quality water sources for the smart cities of tomorrow.