EduAsiaNews, Bandung — The ITB Peduli Sumatra movement, together with students from the “Mahasiswa Berdampak” program and support from the local community, successfully completed the construction of a 2.5-kilometer clean water pipeline in Jamat Village, Central Aceh Regency, in just three days.
ITB Peduli Sumatra is a collaborative initiative across various units of Institut Teknologi Bandung. The collaboration involves the Directorate of Community Service and Expertise (DPMK) ITB, the ITB Alumni Association (IA ITB), Regional ITB Alumni Chapters in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra, the Salman ITB Mosque Foundation, and the National Amil Zakat Agency Rumah Amal. The initiative is further supported by the Indonesian Doctors’ Wives Association.
This clean water pipeline program is a strategic step to support the construction of 75 temporary housing units (huntara) for relocated residents of Jamat Village, targeted to be completed before the Eid al-Fitr holiday. Access to clean water is a fundamental need to ensure the huntara can be occupied safely and comfortably.
The project faced significant geographical challenges. The water source is located at approximately 550 meters above sea level (masl). The pipeline then descends sharply to around 50 masl at the river area before rising again to the huntara location at about 450 masl. The total installed HDPE pipe, 1-inch in diameter, reached 2,570 meters.
Aquia Davva Ismoyo, coordinator of Mahasiswa Berdampak ITB (Oceanography, Class of 2024), stated that he and 16 other students had been in Jamat Village for over a week, beginning with clean water needs assessments and initial source surveys. The pipeline installation was carried out from the huntara area, descending to the river valley, then back up to the water source.
“During our activities here, I gained many experiences, especially seeing the residents directly helping us, which made the work finish quickly and feel more meaningful because it was a collective effort,” said Davva.
He added that there were many practical lessons not learned in classrooms, particularly in tackling the technical challenges of delivering water to the huntara located at higher elevations than the previous hamlet. The relocation of Dusun Jamat, long designated as a red zone, also posed additional challenges for the program’s implementation.
The Head of Jamat Village, Reje, echoed this sentiment, noting that the clean water pipeline was much needed by the community. The winding terrain and extreme elevation made the project difficult, but the collaboration of all parties allowed it to succeed.
“Seeing the extraordinary support from ITB Peduli Sumatra, we were motivated to assist throughout the pipeline process. Water now flows into the huntara area, and we are extremely grateful,” said Reje.
The success of the project was personally visited by the ITB Rector, Prof. Dr. Ir. Tatacipta Dirgantara, M.T., who expressed his appreciation for the efforts of ITB Peduli Sumatra, particularly DPMK ITB, Rumah Amal Salman, and the ITB Alumni Association. He also acknowledged all Mahasiswa Berdampak team members who directly worked in the field.
“Looking at the huntara, the water source is at a high elevation, and getting it up to the huntara area was not easy. This is complex technical work that deserves recognition. Thank you to all Mahasiswa Berdampak teams, both batch 1 and batch 2, who worked diligently with the community,” said Prof. Tata.
The rapid completion of the clean water pipeline demonstrates the strength of collaboration between students, volunteers, and the residents of Jamat Village. The program not only provided essential infrastructure for clean water but also reinforced the spirit of mutual cooperation, offering the community hope and improved living conditions in time for Eid al-Fitr.
