UNAIR NEWS — Team 8 of the Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) Patriot Expedition deployed its members to conduct a survey and mapping of clean water sources in the SP6 transmigration area of Kampung Bowi Subur, Masni District, Manokwari, West Papua. The team undertook this effort to obtain an accurate database on safe water access mapping, progress on the five pillars of Community-Led Total Sanitation (STBM), and the identification of potential local water sources that could be developed to meet the community’s needs.
Dr Sudarmaji MKes led the team, which included Leonardo Sayuna, Muhammad Nurriyanto, Zulfa Azzahra Mulia Putri, Muhammad Rafi Mufti, and Titin Noerhalimah. The team went directly into the field to assess residential conditions, water sources, and sanitation access across the entire Kampung Bowi Subur area, including 13 residential zones in the SP6 area.
Residents have faced challenges accessing clean water since 1985
Access to clean water in Kampung Bowi Subur has been a concern for the community since the area became a destination for transmigration in 1985. According to the head of Masni District, residents continue to face challenges with poor water quality, including cloudy, foul-smelling well water and limited water supply.
This is consistent with accounts from residents of Bowi Subur. For years, they have had to rely on whatever water sources were available, from river water and rainwater collection to groundwater filtered using simple traditional methods, in order to meet their daily needs.
To analyze the situation comprehensively, Team 8 of the UNAIR Patriot Expedition carried out field mapping, targeted to run for approximately 42 days starting August 7, 2026.
“The survey and mapping cover the entire village, including the 13 residential zones in SP6. The entire mapping process was carried out independently by team members using Geographic Information System (GIS) technology,” Dr Sudarmaji explained.
The use of GIS technology makes it easier for the team to process spatial data accurately. Through digital mapping, the team can identify the most optimal locations to ensure safe water is distributed to the community effectively and efficiently.
In addition, to gain a more objective picture of water conditions, Team 8 also conducted water quality testing. The samples collected will undergo laboratory examination, with the results serving as one basis for determining the most suitable intervention for local conditions.
A foundation for alternative solutions and UNAIR’s commitment to the SDGs
The results of the survey and mapping will serve as the basis for developing alternative solutions tailored to the community’s needs and local environmental conditions. Several alternatives under consideration include building communal drilled wells at strategic locations, developing filtration media for water treatment, and installing rainwater collection systems with appropriate capacity.
“Going forward, the interventions will include the construction of communal drilled wells, the development of filtration media, and the installation of rainwater collection systems,” Dr Sudarmaji said.
Beyond providing physical infrastructure, the initiative also aims to strengthen water quality monitoring through Household Drinking Water Quality Surveillance (SKAMRT). This approach is expected to provide a more comprehensive picture of the water conditions used by the community while supporting efforts to improve environmental health.
The effort to map water access and sanitation in Kampung Bowi Subur is not only part of the Patriot Expedition program, but also reflects UNAIR’s contribution to supporting sustainable development. This activity directly supports the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, through efforts to improve access to safe water and adequate sanitation for the community.
The initiative also aligns with SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities, as the mapping and development of alternative water provision help reduce disparities in access to basic services, particularly for communities in areas still facing infrastructure limitations.
Author: Fauziah Laili Romadhon
Editor: Ragil Kukuh Imanto
