One in three people living without adequate sanitation is a stark reminder of how much human potential is lost when basic infrastructure is neglected. At its core, SDG 6 demands universal access to clean drinking water, proper sanitation, and hygiene education — because without sanitation, gains in health from clean water are undermined, and preventable diseases continue to claim lives. Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) has understood this challenge, and taken concrete steps through its community outreach, research, and student projects to help bridge the gap.

One example is the Kuliah Kerja Nyata (KKN)–Kebangsaan program by students from FMIPA UNS, who carried out “Implementasi Water Filtration Sebagai Pendukung Sustainability Air Bersih di Daerah Perbatasan Indonesia-Malaysia” in Desa Sentangau Jaya. Through this project, residents were trained in the use and maintenance of water filtration systems, thus improving access to safer water and raising awareness about sanitation practices. Fakultas MIPA | Unversitas Sebelas Maret

Another contribution is in environmental design and planning research, such as the study on the zero runoff concept implemented in the campus hospital area of UNS. This involved installing rainwater collectors, infiltration wells, bioretention zones, and permeable pavements to reduce surface runoff, which helps manage water sustainably and prevents contamination of local water bodies.

There is also collaboration in “Green Projects,” such as the partnership with Rotterdam University of Applied Science, where UNS architecture and engineering students helped design and install clean water filters as part of a “Kampung Improvement” effort in Kampung Pokja HP, Semanggi – directly contributing to better access to hygienic water in a local community. Fakultas Teknik UNS

Through these efforts, UNS is not merely responding to the lack of sanitation as a problem; the university is empowering communities with knowledge, infrastructure, and sustainable practices. By investing in affordable filtration technologies, improving water management, reducing runoff, and teaching hygiene behavior, UNS helps diminish disease risks, making it possible for people to live healthier lives. These programs reflect UNS’s commitment that access to clean water and sanitation is more than a utility — it’s a foundation for dignity, public health, and unlocking human potential for all.