World Water Day is an internationally observed day held every March 22 to raise global awareness about the importance of clean water for sustaining life.
World Water Day as a global campaign was established on March 22, 1993, through the 47th United Nations General Assembly held on December 22, 1992, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Every year, there is a specific theme tailored to water resource issues that are considered important and need to receive attention from the international community.
According to the UN website, World Water Day 2023 carries the theme “Be The Change.” The meaning of the 2023 World Water Day theme is to encourage people to take an active role in using, consuming, and managing water for the sustainability of their lives.
The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at Universitas Indonesia (FMIPA UI), as a leading science faculty in Indonesia, also contributes as an agent of social change by promoting sustainable goals in efforts to bring about changes in global lifestyles toward using increasingly limited energy and natural resources.
One of these efforts is to raise public awareness about the importance of properly using, consuming, and managing water to sustain life.
As explained by the Dean of FMIPA UI, Dede Djuhana, Ph.D., he outlined several clean water conservation policies implemented within his faculty.
First, the utilization of recycled water, such as collecting air conditioner condensate in containers to be used as an alternative water source.
“The distilled air conditioner water is used to meet the aquadest needs in the Chemistry Laboratory,” said Dean Dede at the FMIPA UI campus in Depok on Tuesday (March 21, 2023).
Second, FMIPA UI also has rainwater storage in a ground tank as a clean water reserve source.
“Third, improving the function of the rainwater control basin into an infiltration hole by increasing the number of rainwater absorption wells to prevent water pooling during rainfall,” he said.
Fourth, helping to maintain the UI lake as a clean water reserve for the campus.
“Maintaining and improving the faculty’s water absorption areas, which consist of forests, gardens, and paved parking areas serving as infiltration zones,” the Dean emphasized.
