30 October 2024
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Medan, Indonesia, 30 October 2024 — Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) has made conscious water use a core element of its wider sustainability agenda. This commitment is anchored in the Green Campus Policy, formally established through Rector’s Regulation No. 3 of 2019 on the Implementation of the Green Campus Movement, which instructs all faculties and administrative units to reduce the use of water, energy, paper, and plastics and to embed sustainable behaviour into everyday operations.
At the operational level, this regulation is translated into action through faculty circular letters and visual awareness campaigns that encourage responsible water behaviour among students and staff. Water‑saving stickers have been installed in restrooms and public areas in major facilities such as the Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, and USU Hospital, serving as constant reminders to use water wisely.
These messages are reinforced by educational activities led by the Green Campus Team (UIGM) and the Community Service Institute (LPPM USU). They organise seminars, workshops, and student‑driven projects focused on water conservation and pollution prevention, both on campus and in surrounding communities.
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To ensure that policy is supported by concrete action, USU has invested in water‑efficient infrastructure. Across academic and administrative buildings, the university has installed sensor‑based faucets, low‑flow toilets, and other water‑saving devices that substantially reduce unnecessary consumption.
USU has also introduced rainwater catchment systems and wastewater recycling facilities in selected buildings. These systems allow harvested rainwater and treated wastewater to be reused for non‑potable purposes such as landscape irrigation and cleaning, decreasing dependence on municipal water supplies and demonstrating long‑term commitment to sustainable infrastructure.
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Water conservation at USU is supported by active monitoring and reporting. As part of its sustainability performance framework, the university routinely tracks water use trends and evaluates the impact of conservation measures.
According to the 2024 sustainability report, USU has succeeded in reducing per‑capita water consumption even as the total campus population has increased. This outcome reflects effective resource management and the influence of ongoing awareness campaigns and technology‑based interventions on everyday behaviour.
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USU’s initiatives directly support Sustainable Development Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) by promoting efficient and responsible water use, and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) through more sustainable patterns of resource consumption. Progress is also reflected in the university’s performance under international sustainability frameworks that assess water conservation programmes and the use of water‑efficient appliances.
By integrating policy, infrastructure, education, and monitoring, Universitas Sumatera Utara shows how a university can embed sustainability into both its operations and campus culture. USU’s experience underscores that conscious water use is not only a technical matter, but also a shared mindset that helps preserve natural resources and supports a more sustainable future for all.
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