UIN Sunan Kalijaga Female Students Study ISLAH Technology

Yogyakarta - Two students from the Sociology Program at the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Universitas Islam Negeri (UIN) Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta — Arifah Fajri Kusumastuti and Najwa Mayasaro Sayyidati — conducted a field practicum on rainwater processing at the Sekolah Air Hujan (SAH) Banyu Bening in Sleman on Monday (4/5/2026).

The activity aimed to deepen the implementation of environmental sociology theory in addressing the problems of clean water crisis and the sustainability of natural resources in society.

During the activity, the two students studied the Instalasi Sistem Lumbung Air Hujan (ISLAH) method — a simple technology for harvesting, filtering, and storing rainwater to make it suitable for consumption.

The main focus of this practicum was to observe the interaction between environmental technology and the social structure of the local community, as well as how this innovation can be adopted as a new culture within society.

"Hands-on learning experiences in the field like this provide a much deeper understanding compared to just reading theories in the classroom," said Najwa Mayasaro Sayyidati during her activities in Sleman on Monday (4/5/2026).

Arifah Fajri Kusumastuti stated that the role of sociologists is very crucial in encouraging active community participation.

According to her, the success of environmental technologies like ISLAH does not only depend on the sophistication of the tools, but also on social acceptance factors so that it can become an independent solution for the basic needs of residents.

The Head of Sekolah Air Hujan Banyu Bening, Kamaludin, explained that ISLAH was designed as a movement to change mindsets toward rainwater. His team provides comprehensive materials ranging from the water collection stage, filtration process, to techniques for utilizing the processed water so it is safe for consumption and supports the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

"Awareness of utilizing rainwater must be built as part of a sustainable living culture," emphasized Kamaludin.

Through the integration of sociology and this conservation practice, graduates are expected to become adaptive and solution-oriented agents of change in promoting community self-reliance in maintaining water resilience in the future.

ISLAH (Instalasi Sistem Lumbung Air Hujan) is a simple, low-cost rainwater harvesting and treatment technology developed by Sri Wahyuningsih and the Sekolah Air Hujan (SAH) Banyu Bening team in Sleman, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

It focuses on collecting, filtering, storing, and making rainwater usable (even drinkable) as a sustainable solution to clean water shortages and over-extraction of groundwater. The system is designed to be easy for communities to adopt and replicate independently.

Core Concept: 5M

ISLAH is built around the 5M framework:

• - Menampung (Collect/Harvest)
• - Mengolah (Process/Filter)
• - Minum (Drink/Consume — making it safe)
• - Menabung (Store/Save)
• - Mandiri (Self-reliant)

The goal is community independence in water management, turning rainwater into a reliable resource even during dry seasons.

How ISLAH Works (Technical Process)

1. Collection (Menampung):

   - Rainwater is captured from rooftops (typically using gutters).

   - The first 10–25 minutes of rain (the "first flush") is often discarded or bypassed. This removes initial pollutants, dust, bird droppings, leaves, and debris from the roof.

2. Filtration (Mengolah) — 3-Stage System:

   - Stage 1 (Screening/First Filter): Coarse debris like leaves, twigs, insects, and gravel is caught in a "streaming" or initial screen/filter.

   - Stage 2 (Sedimentation in Pipe): Water flows into a 6-inch (approx. 15 cm) pipe (often ~50 cm long) where heavier particles and coarse dust settle.

   - Stage 3 (Fine Filtration): Water passes through 7–9 layers of dacron (synthetic fiber padding, ~2.5–3 cm thick) to trap fine dust and smaller particles.

   Additional filters (e.g., activated carbon/charcoal) may be used for further purification.

3. Storage (Menabung):

   - Filtered water is stored in tanks, reservoirs, or "lumbung" (storage structures).

   - Tanks should be kept in a shaded, cool place away from direct sunlight to prevent algae growth and maintain quality. Properly stored and sealed water can remain usable for a long time.

4. Optional Enhancement: Elektrolisa (Electrolysis):

   - Some installations add an electrolysis unit that uses electric current to split water into hydrogen and oxygen, or separate it into alkaline (basic) and acidic water. This further improves quality and creates multifunctional water with additional benefits (e.g., for health or agriculture).

Key Features and Advantages

- Simple & Affordable: Uses everyday materials (pipes, dacron, tanks) so communities can build and maintain it themselves.

- Effective for Daily Use: Produces water suitable for drinking, household needs, and productive activities when processed correctly.

- Environmental & Social Focus: Promotes a mindset shift toward viewing rainwater as a valuable resource rather than waste. It supports Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by reducing pressure on groundwater.

- Scalable: Can be installed at homes, schools, or community levels.

Context and Purpose

ISLAH was created in response to declining clean water availability in areas like Sleman due to climate change, urbanization, and excessive groundwater use. It is taught hands-on at Sekolah Air Hujan Banyu Bening as both a technology and an educational movement.

Note: While rainwater is naturally quite pure (similar to distilled water due to evaporation), proper first-flush diversion and multi-stage filtration are critical to remove external contaminants. Users are encouraged to test water quality where possible for safety.

This technology represents a practical, grassroots approach to water resilience that combines engineering with community education.