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 with Sunway University (Malaysia) 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.