Indonesia ranks ninth in the world for the highest annual rainfall, with 2,702 mm yearly. However, during the rainy season, much of the water goes to waste and is underutilized by the population.
Paradoxically, during the dry season, water scarcity issues persist, making access to clean water difficult for people in several regions of Indonesia, including the Special Region of Yogyakarta.
Data from the Yogyakarta Disaster Risk Reduction Forum indicates that many residents struggle to access clean water daily.
Moreover, wells in some areas are deemed unfit for consumption, and the quality of river and embung (small reservoirs) water often exceeds the standard water quality limits.
These challenges prompted four UGM students to develop an innovative tool capable of processing rainwater into potable water, Toya Wening.
Toya Wening was conceived by Ademas Alam Pangestu (Instrumentation and Control Engineering Technology). The tool is based on rainwater harvesting and water electrolysis.
Ademas Pangestu was supported by his three colleagues: Theophylus Yestra Pratama (Instrumentation and Control Engineering Technology), Salsabila Shafa Qorisu (Pharmacy), and Hendrikus Bagas Pangestu (Electrical Engineering Technology).
Toya Wening was conducted under the guidance of Maun Budiyanto, with funding from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology’s 2023 Student Creativity Program for Innovation.
Pangestu explained that Toya Wening was developed with three main features: harvesting, storage, and electrolysis. The tool also includes a pH value monitoring system and a UV sterilizer for water filtration and sterilization.
“Through these processes, rainwater, which initially does not meet drinking water standards, becomes suitable for consumption because Toya Wening is designed to meet drinking water quality requirements,” he said.
Maun Budiyanto mentioned that the tool underwent water quality testing in the Laboratory of Environmental Hydrology and Climatology to ensure the quality of the treated water.
He hopes Toya Wening can reach various population segments and solve future clean water supply problems.
Author: Ika
Photo: The UGM Toya Wening Team