The Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF) and the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) have devised an initiative aimed at cleaning rivers polluted by illegal mining.
The initiative termed as "Operation Clean the Water Bodies" is a technological exercise that will help reduce turbidity and metal load of water from two rivers (Pra and Bromo rivers) which are located in the Western Region. "Operation Clean the Water Bodies" was developed by UMaT and funded by MIIF which will also finance its implementation.
To achieve the desired results, inorganic surface-active agents and several organic additives, such as moringa, biowaste and high molecular weight surface-active agents were used in pilots on the Pra and Bromo rivers to reduce the turbidity and metal ion concentration in the water.
A report from the MIIF and UMaT indicated that the pilot phase of the initiative had already yielded remarkable outcomes in the rivers.