The Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) demonstrates a strong institutional commitment to aquatic stewardship through the integrated management of its campus canal and watershed system, which serves as both a functional rainwater harvesting network and a living ecosystem supporting biodiversity.
AIT’s canal system—a network of interconnected water channels and retention ponds—captures and stores rainwater during the monsoon season, helping replenish groundwater and mitigate local flooding. This design contributes to campus-scale water circularity by reducing reliance on the municipal supply and maintaining balanced hydrological flows across the campus. The harvested water supports irrigation for the botanical landscape, contributing to soil moisture retention and vegetation health, which in turn enhances the natural filtration of surface runoff.
AIT actively maintains the quality of canal water through ecological and engineering interventions. Freshwater mangrove species and aquatic plants are strategically cultivated along the canal edges to act as natural biofilters—absorbing excess nutrients, stabilizing soil, and providing habitats for small fish and invertebrates. Additionally, aerators are installed in key canal sections to improve oxygenation, reduce algal blooms, and maintain a healthy aquatic balance throughout the system. Refer to
- the launch of unique Freshwater Mangrove Museum on the lake’s edges here
https://ait.ac.th/2020/07/freshwater-mangrove-museum-established-to-enhance-campus-health-and-sustainability/ - recent update on the project at this link supported by AirTrunk Singapore Holding PTE LTD. Duration: Mar 2023 to present
https://ec.ait.ac.th/freshwater-mangrove/
AIT has a large closed-loop canal system with many species of fish and other organisms. It is thus important that the quality of the water is maintained. Canal systems are particularly vulnerable to oxygenation problems. Reduced flow, increased depth, and isolation from the main water body can cause low dissolved oxygen. Surface aerators push water from below the surface up into the air, then the droplets fall back into the water, mixing in oxygen. The jets of water break the surface with varying degrees of force. Aeration reduces variability in these systems while improving water quality, supporting a sustainable ecosystem.
Through this integrated approach—linking rainwater harvesting, biodiversity conservation, and ecosystem health monitoring – AIT maintains and extends the resilience of its freshwater ecosystems while serving as a model for responsible water and watershed management within higher education institutions in Thailand.
