Pemberdayaan Masyarakat Sekotong Barat melalui Teknologi Membran Bioreaktor untuk Pengolahan Air Limbah Menjadi Air Bersih

Abstract

Kegiatan pengabdian kepada masyarakat ini bertujuan untuk meningkatkan pengetahuan, keterampilan teknis, dan kemandirian masyarakat Desa Sekotong Barat dalam pengolahan air limbah melalui penerapan teknologi Membran Bioreaktor (MBR). Permasalahan utama mitra adalah pencemaran air akibat aktivitas penambangan emas tradisional, rendahnya kapasitas teknis masyarakat dalam pengolahan limbah, serta belum adanya model pengelolaan air olahan berbasis BUMDes. Metode pelaksanaan menggunakan pendekatan Participatory Technology Transfer melalui workshop, pelatihan, praktik langsung, pendampingan intensif, dan evaluasi partisipatif. Mitra kegiatan meliputi PKK Desa Sekotong Barat, BUMDes Gita Nada, pemerintah desa, Karang Taruna, mahasiswa KKN-PMM, dan masyarakat terdampak. Hasil kegiatan menunjukkan bahwa pelatihan dan pendampingan meningkatkan pengetahuan serta keterampilan teknis peserta. Sebelum kegiatan, sebagian besar peserta belum mengenal teknologi MBR, sedangkan setelah kegiatan seluruh peserta memahami konsep dan fungsi MBR, serta sebagian besar mampu mencoba atau mengoperasikan alat secara mandiri. Rata-rata skor kompetensi peserta meningkat dari 57,35 pada pre-test menjadi 85,45 pada post-test dan menunjukkan perbedaan yang bermakna secara statistik berdasarkan uji paired sample t-test yang dilaporkan pada bagian metode dan hasil. Pada aspek kualitas air, 15 dari 20 peserta mampu menghasilkan air olahan awal yang tampak lebih jernih berdasarkan indikator visual awal, yaitu warna, bau, kejernihan, dan berkurangnya partikel tersuspensi. Namun, evaluasi kualitas air pada kegiatan ini belum mengacu pada standar baku mutu air bersih karena belum dilakukan uji laboratorium terhadap parameter pH, TDS, kekeruhan, BOD/COD, merkuri/logam berat, dan mikrobiologi. Oleh karena itu, hasil air olahan belum dapat dinyatakan layak atau aman digunakan masyarakat sebelum pengujian lanjutan dilakukan. BUMDes menunjukkan kesiapan awal untuk mendukung keberlanjutan program, tetapi masih memerlukan penguatan SOP, operator, biaya operasional, mekanisme distribusi, dan legalitas. Kegiatan ini menunjukkan bahwa integrasi teknologi MBR, pelatihan partisipatif, pendampingan mahasiswa, dan penguatan kelembagaan desa berpotensi menjadi model awal pemberdayaan masyarakat berbasis teknologi tepat guna.

Community Empowerment in Sekotong Barat through Membrane Bioreactor Technology for Wastewater Treatment into Clean Water

Abstract

This community service program aimed to improve the knowledge, technical skills, and self-reliance of the Sekotong Barat Village community in wastewater treatment through the application of Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) technology. The main problems faced by the community partners were water pollution caused by traditional gold mining activities, limited technical capacity in wastewater treatment, and the absence of a village-owned enterprise-based model for treated water management. The program employed a Participatory Technology Transfer approach through workshops, training, hands-on practice, intensive mentoring, and participatory evaluation. The partners involved included the PKK group of Sekotong Barat Village, BUMDes Gita Nada, the village government, youth organizations, KKN-PMM students, and affected community members. The results indicated that the training and mentoring improved participants’ knowledge and technical skills. Before the program, most participants were unfamiliar with MBR technology, whereas after the program all participants understood the concept and function of MBR, and most were able to try or operate the equipment independently. The average competency score increased from 57.35 in the pre-test to 85.45 in the post-test and showed a statistically meaningful difference based on the paired sample t-test reported in the methods and results sections. Regarding water quality, 15 out of 20 participants were able to produce preliminary treated water that appeared visually clearer based on the initial visual indicators, namely color, odor, clarity, and reduced suspended particles. However, the water quality evaluation in this program did not yet refer to clean water quality standards because laboratory testing of pH, TDS, turbidity, BOD/COD, mercury/heavy metals, and microbiological parameters had not been conducted. Therefore, the treated water cannot yet be declared suitable or safe for community use before further testing is performed. BUMDes demonstrated initial readiness to support program sustainability, but further strengthening is required in terms of SOPs, operators, operational costs, distribution mechanisms, and legality. This program indicates that the integration of MBR technology, participatory training, student mentoring, and village institutional strengthening has the potential to serve as an initial model of community empowerment based on appropriate technology.