Bali, the “Island of the Gods,” is part of the island nation of Indonesia. Over a million international tourists visit each year to see its natural beauty and the unique culture of its 3.5 million inhabitants.

The last king of Karangasem built Tirta Gangga palace (Tirta=holy water and Gangga=Ganges river) in 1948 at one of Bali’s most beautiful sites. The palace includes gardens and spring-fed fountains, ponds, and a formal bathing pool. But the waste generated by up to 200 visitors a day is harming water quality throughout the surrounding area.

Seacology has helped the Planetary Coral Reef Foundation implement a garden system that organically breaks down wastewater. The result is nutrients for vegetation, which are used in a garden. The project will serve as a model for other local governments, who face similar problems caused by the ever-growing number of tourists. It will also help a local group (Tirta Gangga Community Organization) in its efforts to clean up local water supplies.