11 November 2024
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Medan, Indonesia, 11 November 2024 — Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) has made conscious and responsible water use a core part of its sustainability agenda, linking policy, awareness, research, and community action. This commitment is grounded in Rector’s Regulation No. 3 of 2019 on the Implementation of the Green Campus Movement, which calls on all faculties and study programmes to conserve water, energy, plastics, and paper and to integrate sustainable behaviour into everyday campus life.
Across the university, water saving initiatives have become visible expressions of USU’s environmental culture. Sticker campaigns that promote efficient water use are placed in restrooms and public areas at the Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, and the USU Hospital, serving as constant reminders for students, staff, and visitors to use water wisely.
These visual messages are supported by faculty level circular letters issued by Deans, which formalise guidelines on responsible water consumption. Alongside these behaviour focused efforts, USU has installed water saving taps and toilets and introduced rainwater catchment and reuse systems in several academic and administrative buildings.
These facilities function both as practical conservation measures and as living laboratories, where students and researchers can observe and study sustainable water management systems in operation.
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USU’s commitment to water sustainability extends beyond the campus. Through the Community Service Institute (LPPM USU), the university dedicates resources and personnel to outreach programmes that promote responsible water use, sanitation awareness, and environmental education in surrounding communities.
Activities include village based community service programmes (KKN Tematik), public workshops, seminars, and training sessions that help residents adopt water saving practices and pollution prevention measures. These initiatives are often supported by student volunteer organisations and coordinated in partnership with local government agencies, helping to ensure long term impact at the community level.
Within its academic framework, USU advances applied research on water saving technologies, sustainable urban water systems, and integrated water resource management, particularly within the Faculty of Engineering and the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences.
Research outputs are regularly tested and applied on campus through pilot rainwater harvesting projects, wastewater recycling systems, and other demonstrative installations. Findings are then shared with the wider public through workshops, publications, and community partnerships, ensuring that scientific knowledge leads to practical environmental improvements.
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To extend its reach, USU collaborates with government agencies, non governmental organisations, and the private sector to design and implement local and regional water conservation programmes. These partnerships strengthen capacity for sustainable water management in North Sumatra and directly support the achievement of SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation.
USU’s holistic approach, which combines policy commitment, campus awareness, scientific research, and community engagement, shows how a university can truly embed sustainability into its institutional culture. By aligning daily operations with educational outreach and innovation, Universitas Sumatera Utara not only promotes responsible water use on campus, but also generates a ripple effect of sustainable practices across society.
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