UNUSA and PT Telkom Indonesia Inaugurated the UNUSA-Water Advanced Water Filter at the Pesantren Al Urwatul Wutsqo Jombang, Ensuring Students' Drinking Water is Free of High TDS and Bacteria with UV-Filtration Membrane Technology

Jombang, January 20, 2026. Pesantren Al Urwatul Wutsqo now has access to clean and safe drinking water thanks to the installation of the UNUSA-Water advanced water filter system carried out by the Universitas Nahdlatul Ulama Surabaya (UNUSA) team, with full funding support from PT Telkom Indonesia, this system consists of sand filter media that is precisely integrated with a reverse osmosis membrane to effectively reduce the Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) level to reach the standard for drinking water suitable for consumption, also equipped with an ultraviolet (UV) system that functions as a strong disinfectant against bacteria and pathogenic microorganisms, thus ensuring the quality of water ready to use all day long for hundreds of students who live and study at the Islamic boarding school (Pesantren).

The installation of the UNUSA-Water water filter is part of UNUSA's community service program that focuses on sustainable environmental technology solutions, where the layered sand filter media acts as the initial stage of filtering coarse particles and sediment from local groundwater sources, then flows through a high-tech reverse osmosis membrane that is able to filter excess mineral ions and chemical contaminants to TDS levels below 50 ppm, while UV lamps with optimal intensity produce germicidal rays that damage the DNA of bacteria such as E. coli and coliform without leaving chemical residues, making this system ideal for the daily drinking water needs of students who previously depended on less secure water sources.

The inauguration of UNUSA-Water at the Pesantren Al Urwatul Wutsqo took place solemnly with the presence of UNUSA leaders, Islamic boarding school caretakers, and representatives of PT Telkom as the main donor who funded all these activities to support technology-based community empowerment, the event was marked by a symbolic ribbon cutting, followed by a live demonstration of the operation of the filter system which showed the flow of clear water from the output tap after the complete filtration process, so that students can immediately enjoy the benefits for drinking, cooking, and daily hygiene needs in the Islamic boarding school environment.

The collaboration between UNUSA and PT Telkom in this project not only provides permanent water filter infrastructure that is easy to maintain by the Islamic boarding school management, but also involves intensive training for students and caregivers on operational methods, monitoring water quality through simple TDS tests, and a regular maintenance schedule for the RO membrane and filter tube to maintain the system's lifespan. This initiative is in line with PT Telkom's vision in its corporate social responsibility (CSR) program to improve the welfare of rural and religious communities in East Java.

With the successful installation and inauguration of UNUSA-Water at the Pesantren Al Urwatul Wutsqo, UNUSA hopes to replicate this water filter technology model to other Islamic boarding schools in Jombang and its surroundings to overcome the problem of unhealthy drinking water often experienced by students, where the sand-RO-UV integration system has been proven effective in reducing TDS from hundreds of ppm to safe drinking, thus supporting the health of the young generation of Nahdliyin and contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) number 6 on clean water and number 3 on public health.