A university should apply the three pillars of higher education, namely education, research, and community service (PkM).
This includes the activities carried out by several lecturers from the Mechanical Engineering Study Program at Widyatama University in Bandung, who conducted PkM at SMK Putra Bahari, Jalan Jatimekar RT 01, RW 06, Bojongmalaka Village, Baleendah District, Bandung Regency, by installing water purification equipment.
The activity itself was carried out on Saturday, August 29, 2020.
Udin Komarudin, Ir., MT., Head of the Mechanical Engineering Study Program, explained that the purpose of this activity was to help the community overcome the problem of murky water in the Bojongmalaka Village area, including SMK Putra Bahari. Until now, they have been using artesian water (wells) with murky water quality that smells of soil and iron.
“Through this PkM activity, our study program provides a solution, namely by helping the community with socialization and the application of methods for making water purifiers. Based on the results of the research, this tool can purify murky and smelly water, making it clear and odorless, suitable for daily use, but not for drinking,” explained Udin, Wednesday (2/9/2020).
“This activity is also part of the core duties of lecturers, namely service, research, and community service,” he added.
He further explained that the PkM activity involved himself and all Mechanical Engineering lecturers, including Martoni, ST., MT., Nia Nuraeni Suryaman, S.Pd., MT., Marisa Hirary, ST., MT., Ida Farida, ST., MT., Heru Santoso, Ir., MM., Kresno, ST., plus several Mechanical Engineering students representing their class.
“In the field, this activity still complies with health protocols,” said Udin.
In addition to socialization, the Mechanical Engineering Study Program’s PkM activity also handed over two water purification devices to SMK Putra Bahari. These were installed at the school as prototypes/models for the community to replicate. The device is called the Widyatama University Water Filter (SarmUT).
Udin hopes that through this PkM activity, the results of the lecturers’ research will not only be recorded in journals, but can also be directly felt by the community and become a solution to problems that exist in the wider community.
Meanwhile, the Principal of SMK Putra Bahari, Ratih Ambarsari, S.Sos, expressed her gratitude for the installation of the water purifier, SarmUT PkM Mechanical Engineering, Widyatama University.
“Alhamdulillah, now the murky water is clear after being filtered using SarmUT and can be used for daily activities,” said Ratih.
