Apple to expand clean water project for Vietnam schools through 2026

Apple confirmed on Tuesday that the company and global clean water organization Gravity Water have completed the installation of a rainwater-harvesting and filtration system at Long Hoa Middle School in Can Gio, a coastal locality in Ho Chi Minh City.

The system automates the collection and purification of rainwater year-round, providing a reliable local water source for drinking and daily use.

According to the U.S. tech giant, each system includes real-time water-metering tools and remote-monitoring technology that allow Gravity Water to track operations, water savings and overall system performance in a transparent manner.

Co Thi Ngoc Nu, acting principal of Long Hoa Middle School, said the system has brought “very practical benefits” by supplying clean drinking water and supporting daily needs such as watering plants and cleaning.

It also helps reduce school expenses and the burden on students who previously had to bring water from home.

“The system sends an important message about protecting the environment and conserving water as we adapt to climate change,” she added.

Apple said the project will expand to 15 more schools in the southernmost province of Ca Mau early next year.

Only about 35 percent of students across more than 1,000 schools in Ca Mau currently have access to clean water, according to the provincial Center for Rural Water Supply and Sanitation.

During the dry season from December to May, saltwater intrusion can push up to 3km inland, leaving schools heavily dependent on bottled water or untreated brackish water.

Bottled water is costly, while desalination remains expensive, forcing many schools to rely on contaminated groundwater that poses serious health risks to students.

In 2024, Apple partnered with Gravity Water to bring clean, sustainable drinking water to 131 schools in former Hoa Binh Province, now part of the expanded Phu Tho Province in northern Vietnam.

That project supported nearly 40,000 disadvantaged children, saved more than 14.6 million liters of groundwater, and upgraded water systems to supply safe drinking water on site, easing the financial burden of buying bottled water for families and schools.

Apple said its continued investment is part of a broader commitment to help communities impacted by climate change, particularly in areas where saltwater intrusion is worsening and groundwater is becoming increasingly polluted.