An indigenous technical device placed at the edge of the Kayalnilam for pumping water out from low-lying areas to the major canals or backwaters. It consists of a submerged brass vessel that sucks water out and is run by an electric motor kept inside the pump house. The sucked water flows out through a rectangular brass box.
Project: Kuttanad Kayalnilam Agrosystem, Kerala, India
Climate: Tropical monsoon
Year: 1880-1974 (a modified version is still in use)
Water type: Seasonal mixing of saline and freshwater
Landscape: Polder landscape in a deltaic basin
Altitude: -3 – +1.5 m.a.s.l
Soil condition: Sandy loam clay formed from riverine or lacustrine deposits
An open waterway that provides clean fresh water for drinking and irrigational use. Small ones are called “Kau 溝”, big ones are called called “Tsùn 圳”.
Project: Ksôkong Tsùn Irrigation System, Taiwan
Climate: Tropical savanna climate with dry-winter characteristics
Manna Gum and Red Gum trees were used to smoke eels and fish. Existing hollows at the base of a tree were expanded and burnt out forming a chimney. Eels and fishes were hung inside the chimney and smoke from the small fire lit inside the base of the tree would start the smoking process. Smoking eels and fishes preserved the meat to be stored for when food was scarce, or to be traded to other areas.
Project: Aboriginal eel Aquaculture – Gunditjmara Country.
Climate: Temperate – Warm-summer Mediterranean
Year: 4000 BC
Water type: Fresh water
Landscape: Volcano stream
Meaning: Utilitarian
Water workers and users: Aboriginal fishers
Material: Manna Gum (Eucalyptus viminalis) and Red Gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis)
Eel baskets were placed in gaps of stone and wooden fish traps with an opening to capture mature eels and let immature eels through. The baskets were mostly woven with Common Reed and Spear grass found in the area. Basket making was commonly performed by women.
Project: Aboriginal eel Aquaculture – Gunditjmara Country.
Climate: Temperate – Warm-summer Mediterranean
Year: 4000 BC
Water type: Fresh water
Landscape: Volcano stream
Meaning: Utilitarian
Water workers and users: Aboriginal fishers
Material: Common Reed (Phragmites australis) and Spear grass (Heteropogon contortus)
Kamalir and Nandur Clearing waterways and planting rice
Kamalir is cleaning waterways from weeds and parasites. It is done by the men in Kampung Naga as part of regular community activities before the planting season. Nandur is the activity of planting rice in the fields. This includes regulating the amount of water collected in each parcel to suit the needs of rice seeds to grow properly.
In Kampung Naga, rice is pounded manually using traditional tools. This activity is carried out at the rice husking station which is built on a fishpond. Rice husks will be thrown into fishpond to feed the fish.
Nyusu air – spring water – is the only source of drinking water in Kampung Naga. The inhabitants collect the Nyusu water from the faucet at a platform on a fishpond.
Project: Kampung Naga
Climate: Tropical – Mild temperate humid
Year: Current
Water Type: Fresh water
Landscape: Plains
Meaning: Utilitarian
Water workers & users: Inhabitants
Material: Concrete & Bamboo
Period: Fixed construction for daily activities
Use or Function : Collect potable water from the spring
In Kampung Naga, toilet units were built above the fishponds in a communal area outside the settlement area. Each latrine has 2 water tanks that separate water from the river and the spring.
In the settlement area of Kampung Naga, the use of water is only found at the mosque, as part of religious rituals before prayer. Besides, sometimes people also use it to wash food materials. This water tub has 2 tanks which are used to separate water from the river or the spring.
Project: Kampung Naga
Climate: Tropical – Mild temperate humid
Year: Current
Water Type: Fresh water
Landscape: Plains
Meaning: Utilitarian
Water workers & users: Inhabitants
Material: Concrete & Stone
Period: Fixed construction for daily activities
Use or Function : Cleaning rituals before prayer, washing food materials
