Pemberdayaan Masyarakat Melalui Pembuatan Filter Air Sederhana Berbasis Media Filter Lokal di Desa Pasir Keranji, Kecamatan Pasir Penyu, Kabupaten Indragiri Hulu

Abstract

Residents of Pasir Keranji Village rely on ring wells as a primary source of water for their daily activities. However, the well water exhibits an oily sheen, a metallic odor, and pronounced floc formation upon standing. Despite these aesthetic water quality issues, the community remains unconcerned and continues to use the water for cooking, underscoring the urgent need for simple, self-managed water treatment solutions. To address this issue, students from the Universitas Riau Community Service Program (KUKERTA) conducted an initiative aimed at enhancing local knowledge and practical skills in basic water treatment by constructing filters using accessible local materials, such as sand, charcoal, and gravel. The program took place in Pasir Keranji Village, Pasir Penyu District, Indragiri Hulu Regency, utilizing a participatory approach that encompassed outreach, discussions, demonstrations, and hands-on practice in filter construction and operation. The results showed that participants gained a solid understanding of filtration principles, individual media functions, and backwash-based operation and maintenance. Furthermore, the introduced filter effectively produced visually clearer water while significantly reducing floc formation and metallic odors.