top of page
Firefly Create a high-detail 3D rendering of a semi-submerged concrete textured cylindrica

Water Systems: Vai Tapu & Vai Koko

Resilient Water for a Sovereign Future

Overview

The Tuvalu Sovereign Vision places water at the center of our climate resilience, ecological stewardship, and cultural identity. Together, Vai Tapu and Vai Koko form a regenerative, modular, and ritual-integrated water system built for the rising tides.

Vai Tapu – Desalination Node

Vai Tapu is a self-contained desalination unit delivering up to 20,000 liters/day of potable water. Powered by solar and monitored by the Guardian system, it enables island communities to thrive off-grid.

Features

  • Solar array + lithium battery backup

  • Rainwater capture + dilution integration

  • Real-time public dashboards via Guardian terminal

  • Modular connection to Vai Koko tanks

  • Coral-safe brine discharge and salt harvesting (Salt Basin)

​​​​​​

Explore Vai Tapu Specs
vai_koko_icon.png

Vai Koko – Lagoon Water Cocoon

Vai Koko is a 20,000-liter semi-submerged water storage tank, installed in the lagoon floor and crowned with a coral nursery. It protects water, restores reefs, and serves as a living ritual object.

Features

  • Submerged capsule with passive cooling

  • Coral Crown for reef regeneration

  • Reefskin concrete shell for ecological attachment

  • RGB light ring for water level & ritual use

  • Hydro and solar powered sensors

  • Accessible hatch, smart sensor node, and status indicators

See Vai Koko in Action

Designed to Work Together

Vai Tapu units supply clean water directly into Vai Koko tanks—creating a resilient, distributed system that functions even during grid failure or storm surge.

System Flow
system_flow_icon.png
Brine Management
Brine Management_icon.png
Power Synergy
Power Synergy_icon.png
Data Integration
Data Integration_icon.png
Ecological Link
Ecological Link_icon.png
Civic Cohesion
Civic Cohesion_icon.png
Aspect
Vai Tapu (Desalination Node)
Vai Koko (Water Storage Tank)
Function
Converts seawater to potable freshwater
Stores and protects clean water in submerged lagoon tanks
Daily Capacity
Up to 20,000 L/day
20,000 L per tank
Power Source
Solar array + lithium battery (6.4 kW + 14 kWh)
Hydro microturbine + solar trickle panels
Sensor Monitoring
Guardian integration via Cerbo GX + dashboard
Pressure, temp, salinity, vibration, GPS, light ring
Brine Handling
The Advanced Brine Recovery Unit + rainwater dilution + halophyte discharge + Solar Evaporation Modulars
N/A (brine managed upstream via Tapu + environmental interface)
Ecological Benefit
Reduces brine toxicity, supports salt recovery
Coral propagation via porous crown + Reefskin marine coating
Installation Site
Onshore or nearshore, solar-sheltered
Semi-submerged in lagoon, below sand with coral crown exposed
Maintenance Access
Lockable container, solar shading, dashboard interface
Top hatch + internal ladder, waterproof sensor enclosure
Ritual Features
Guardian terminal + status LED + civic signage
Light ring, naming rituals, Reefskin application, blessing events
Integration Point
Sends freshwater to multiple tanks via inlet/outlet plumbing
Receives from Tapu, distributes via smart/manual valves
Resilience Features
Auto power prioritization, grid-diesel fallback, cyclone-rated design
Anchor skirt, sandbag ballast, Coral Crown visible post-storm

Integrated with Community Life

These systems support community engagement through:

Ritual & Cultural Practices
Cultural Practices_icon.png

These systems are blessed, named, and maintained through public ceremony:
 

  • Naming Ceremonies

  • Reefskin Application Rituals

  • Light Awakening Ceremonies

  • Seasonal Reaffirmation Events

Youth Engagement & Education
Youth Engagement_icon.png

Children and students take an active role in caring for the system:
 

  • School groups monitor water levels, coral growth, and tank sensors with Guardian support.

  • Youth record changes in the coral nursery or tank environment through storytelling and photography.

  • Vai Koko tanks installed at schools become "learning reefs"—fusing ecology, engineering, and ancestral values.

Public Visibility & Civic Feedback
Public Visibility_icon.png

The system is designed to be understood and felt by everyone:
 

  • Guardian-linked dashboards show real-time water, energy, and coral health at public terminals.

  • Light rings provide intuitive signals: blue for full, yellow for low, red for maintenance needed.

  • Simple visual symbols and bilingual signage make information accessible across generations and literacy levels.

Community Stewardship & Identity
Community_Stewardship_icon.png

Each tank is a vessel of local pride and shared care:
 

  • Whispering Stewards (trained youth or elders) are assigned to each site to handle upkeep and ritual preparation.

  • Tanks feature clan motifs, spiral water lines, or moon phase symbols, reflecting their guardianship story.

  • Maintenance is embedded into ritual time—with Guardian prompts and community events reinforcing long-term commitment.

Why It Works

Vai Tapu units supply clean water directly into Vai Koko tanks—creating a resilient, distributed system that functions even during grid failure or storm surge.

1.
Uses What the Island Has
 

  • Lagoon Space Instead of Dry Land

  • Rain, Sun, and Seawater

  • Local Labor and Materials

4. 
Aligns with Culture, Not Just Code

  • Ritual-Ready Infrastructure

  • Civic Feedback Loops

  • Naming and Symbolic Design

2.
Built for Storms, Salt, and Sea-Level Rise

  • Submerged, Not Exposed

  • Resilient Desalination

  • Durable Materials

5.
Scalable, Replicable, Open Source

  • From 1 Unit to 1 Nation

  • Open Source + Civic Commons License

  • Global Relevance

3.
Supports Life Above and Below the Waterline

  • Water Security

  • Coral Regeneration

  • Halophyte & Salt Harvesting

6.
Smart, Autonomous, and Offline-First

  • Offline Operation

  • Automated Safety

  • No IT Team Needed

  • Self-Healing Logic

  • Guardian as Ally, Not Overseer

bottom of page