Faculty members and students from the Mechanical Engineering Program, Faculty of Engineering, Widyatama University (UTama) created a water filter model to address dirty and foul-smelling water in the village of Bojong Malaka, Baleendah District, Bandung Regency.
The activity was carried out from December 12 to 30, 2021. The theme of the project was “Water Filtration Model Using Zeolite, Ferrolite, and Activated Carbon.”
Udin Komarudin, Ir., MT., Head of the Mechanical Engineering Study Program, explained that this activity was also part of the university’s three pillars of higher education, namely research and community service (PkM).
From left to right, Udin Komarudin, Ir., MT (lecturer), Ratna Komala Putri, Dr., S.E., M.Si (lecturer), Andhika Ligar Hardika, SE., M.Si (lecturer), students (wearing university jackets)
After researching the characteristics of groundwater in the village, a dirty water filter was created, consisting of filter media such as activated charcoal, ferrolite, and zeolite.
“Based on the results of the study, the composition of the filter media is 60% (of 100%) activated charcoal, 50% (of 100%) ferrolite, and 50% (of 100%) zeolite, with activated charcoal at the top, ferrolite in the middle, and zeolite at the bottom,” said Udin, Tuesday (February 8, 2022).
Udin further said that the results of the study showed that the filtered groundwater was suitable for use by the community for bathing, washing, ablution, and other purposes. However, it is not recommended for direct consumption.
“This water filter model developed by researchers is expected to be implemented and used by the people of Bojong Malaka village and other areas,” said Udin.
He also explained that the activity was integrated with the Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka (MBKM) program, including the “MBKM Policy Research and Community Service Grant Program Based on Research Results and Prototypes of Private Higher Education Institutions, Directorate General of Higher Education, Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education, 2021.”
It is known that besides lecturers and students from the Mechanical Engineering Study Program, the activity also involved lecturers from the Faculty of Economics and Business.
(Source: majalahsora.com)
