Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES) has reinforced its dedication to environmental sustainability by enacting Rector’s Regulation No. 109 of 2024 on Water Conservation Management Guidelines. The new policy provides a comprehensive framework for managing water resources within the university to ensure adequate, efficient, and sustainable water use for academic and non-academic activities.
Rector Prof. S. Martono stated that the regulation replaces the previous 2022 guideline to adapt to current environmental and institutional developments. The policy aims to guarantee long-term water availability and support UNNES’s vision as a “Conservation University.”
According to the regulation (pp. 3–4), UNNES manages four key water sources — rainwater, surface water, groundwater, and wastewater — using principles of sustainability and eco-efficiency. The guidelines mandate every unit on campus to maintain at least 40% green open space, optimize rainwater harvesting facilities, increase the number of infiltration wells and biopores, and reuse treated wastewater.
As detailed in the annex (pp. 6–9), UNNES has established integrated infrastructure systems, including ground tanks, automatic watering systems, sprinkler installations, wastewater recycling facilities, and biopore networks. The campus has also implemented metering systems to monitor water consumption and ensure efficiency.
The policy highlights that wastewater containing hazardous materials must be treated at wastewater treatment plants (IPAL) before disposal. Drainage systems for rainwater and non-hazardous wastewater are designed to utilize the campus’s natural topography for gravity-based flow toward retention ponds (embung).
With this regulation, UNNES strengthens its leadership as a green and sustainable university, integrating scientific innovation and environmental stewardship. The university’s proactive approach to water conservation supports Indonesia’s commitment to achieving SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and sustainable campus management nationwide.
