Bontang, July 29, 2024 - In the middle of the ocean of East Kalimantan lies the island of Gusung, which may Seem strange to many people. This small island with around two hundred families faces a major challenge when it comes to meeting the demand for clean water. On Gusung Island, there is no clean water supply from the PDAM (Regional Drinking Water Company), so people rely on rainwater for bathing and washing.

To get clean water, the residents have to travel about 15-20 minutes by ketinting or traditional motorboat. The trip requires about two liters of fuel per trip and clean water, which is bought for IDR 1,000 per 30 liters, is only used for needs such as cooking and washing. On average, each family needs about 600 liters of water every two days. This means that the cost of clean water in one month amounts to IDR 660,000.

Faced with this situation, Alyyah and her two friends Salwa and Nazwa, students at SMK Negri 1 Bontang, took the initiative and developed an innovative solution using the plant Amaranthus viridis or green spinach to produce clean water. This idea was developed in the vocational school of analytical chemistry and written down in a scientific book titled 'Water for Shared Prosperity'.

Before they found an effective method, they conducted various experiment with materials such as silica sand, Ball sand, elephant grass, com flour and green spinach leaves or Amarathus viridis is the most suitable material for seawater desalination," Salwa said.

Amarathus viridis, or green spinach, is characterized by light green stems and leaves with a high water content. This plant can be cultivated hydroponically with rainwater, which is very suitable for the remote location of Gusung Island.

Research by Haposan Manalu et. al. (2011) shows that green spinach contains nitrite (NO2), which reacts with the salt in seawater to produce clean water. This research is consistent with the findings of Hongwei et. al. (2007) showing that nitrite in green spinach can treat seawater to make it cleaner.

 The innovation developed by Alyyah, Salwa and Nazwa aims to find a long-term solution to the problem of lack of clean water on Gusung Island. By using local plants and desalination technology, they are contributing to efforts to conserve water resources and improve the quality of life the community on this remote island.