Undana Collaborates with Three Universities to Bring Clean Water Technology to TTS
Nusa Cendana University (Undana) has collaborated with the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), Gadjah Mada University (UGM), and Padjadjaran University (Unpad) to provide clean water filtration technology and animal health services to the community of Fatukoko Village, Timor Tengah Selatan Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, through the 2026 Indonesia Collaborative Community Service Programme. The programme is an initiative of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Kemdiktisaintek).
The head of the 2026 PMKI team, Prof. Muhammad Ali Zulfikar, stated in Kupang on Thursday that Fatukoko Village was specifically chosen because it still faces limited access to clean water, especially during the dry season, forcing some residents to rely on river water for their daily needs. "Before the filtration technology was implemented, water samples from the river underwent laboratory testing to ensure their quality," he said.
During the implementation, the team not only introduced the technology but also assembled and demonstrated how to operate the equipment together with the villagers. "From the demonstration, a clear physical difference was visible between the water before and after passing through this simple filtration process. Although post-installation test results are still pending further evaluation, we recommend that residents boil the filtered water before consumption," he added.
In addition to providing clean water, a team from UGM, together with the Faculty of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine at Undana and the Livestock Service of Timor Tengah Selatan Regency, conducted outreach, health checks, and disease prevention efforts for the villagers’ livestock. He noted that the application of modern technology must be aligned with the socio-cultural conditions of communities in dry island areas to ensure sustainable benefits.
Prof. Aliya Nur Hasanah from Unpad expressed hope that the partnership between the four universities would not end with this community service activity but would develop into a long-term mentoring programme, establishing Fatukoko Village as an assisted village.