Promoting Responsible Water Use Beyond the UNISSULA Campus

Universitas Islam Sultan Agung (UNISSULA) actively promotes responsible and conscious water use in the wider community through community-service programmes, public awareness campaigns, and practical assistance on clean-water management.

During 2025, these efforts included community engagement in Karangrejo Village, Pucakwangi District, Pati Regency, where UNISSULA provided guidance and technical assistance related to clean-water supply, groundwater dependence, water storage, and distribution planning.

UNISSULA also promoted broader public awareness through its World Water Day 2025 campaign, encouraging people to recognise the importance of conserving water for a sustainable future.

Community Water Awareness in Karangrejo Village

One of UNISSULA’s main 2025 community-based water initiatives took place in Karangrejo Village, Pucakwangi District, Pati Regency.

Residents in the village still depend heavily on groundwater because the available regional water-distribution network does not adequately reach the area. The community also faces difficulties accessing clean groundwater because water sources are located at significant depth.

This situation provided an important context for promoting more careful and responsible management of available water resources.

Guidance and Assistance for Better Water Management

UNISSULA’s community-service activity was not limited to infrastructure planning.

The programme included guidance, discussion, and assistance related to the planning of clean-water sources and water-storage facilities.

The community was supported in understanding how water could be:

• collected;
• stored;
• distributed more effectively;
• managed according to local demand; and
• planned in a way that reduces the risk of shortages.

The activity also included technical discussion on the design and budgeting of a community water reservoir.

Through this process, UNISSULA helped strengthen awareness that reliable water access depends not only on finding a source, but also on managing that source carefully and efficiently.

Encouraging Efficient Use of Limited Water Resources

Because Karangrejo Village has limited access to clean water, the programme highlighted the importance of using available water resources efficiently.

Community discussions addressed the need to improve water storage and distribution so that available water could be managed more effectively across the village.

The planned 100 m³ reservoir was developed as part of this broader approach to improving the reliability and efficiency of local clean-water management.

This type of intervention helps encourage communities to think about water availability, storage capacity, distribution, and responsible consumption as interconnected issues.

Direct Engagement with Local Residents

The programme involved direct engagement with local stakeholders, including the village government and residents.

This participatory approach is important because conscious water use is most effective when communities understand their own water conditions and are involved in planning how water resources are managed.

By combining technical knowledge with local discussion, UNISSULA helped promote a more informed approach to water use and water-resource planning.

Supporting Community Capacity

The Karangrejo initiative demonstrates how UNISSULA uses community service to build local capacity in water management.

The university provided:

• technical knowledge;
• planning assistance;
• discussion and consultation;
• clean-water infrastructure design; and
• support for long-term water-storage planning.

These activities help communities better understand the value of water resources and the importance of managing them carefully.

World Water Day 2025 Public Awareness Campaign

UNISSULA also promoted water awareness through its World Water Day 2025 campaign on 22 March 2025.

The campaign carried the message:

“Lestarikan Air, Jaga Kehidupan”

“Every drop of water matters for a sustainable future.”

This message encourages the wider public to recognise that water conservation is directly connected to environmental sustainability and future quality of life.

The campaign complements community-based activities by communicating a simple and accessible message about responsible water use.

Extending Water Awareness Beyond Campus

The World Water Day campaign allows UNISSULA’s water-conservation message to reach beyond university operations.

Public environmental communication can encourage broader awareness of:

• the importance of conserving clean water;
• avoiding unnecessary water waste;
• protecting water sources;
• increasing water-use efficiency; and
• supporting sustainable water management.

Through public-facing communication and community engagement, UNISSULA extends water-conscious messages beyond students and staff to wider society.

Linking Awareness with Practical Action

UNISSULA’s approach combines awareness promotion with practical intervention.

In Karangrejo Village, the university supported community understanding through guidance and planning assistance.

Through World Water Day, the university communicated a broader conservation message to the public.

Together, these approaches connect:

awareness → knowledge → planning → responsible water management

This helps ensure that water-conscious behaviour is supported by both education and practical community action.

Community Service as a Platform for Water Education

Community-service programmes provide an important platform for UNISSULA to share water-management knowledge beyond campus.

Through direct engagement with villages and local communities, university expertise can be translated into practical guidance on:

• water supply;
• groundwater use;
• storage;
• distribution;
• conservation; and
• long-term water planning.

This strengthens the role of the university as a source of practical knowledge for sustainable community development.