The Geophysics Student Association “Pedra” of Universitas Padjadjaran, along with the Unpad Geophysics PKM Team, carried out the 2025 Village Empowerment (Bina Desa) Program in Cibadak-1 Hamlet, Pasirwaru Village, Blubur Limbangan Subdistrict, Garut. The program, which ran from May to July 2025, aimed to map groundwater and explore clean water sources through the Community Self-Reliance Group Empowerment (KKM) Program. This initiative supports the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 6: ensuring the availability and sustainable management of clean water and sanitation for all.
Located approximately 39 km from Unpad Jatinangor, Cibadak-1 Hamlet is one of the drought-prone areas in the region, facing serious clean water shortages during the dry season. The local self-reliance group (KKM), led by Maman Suparman, has made several efforts to solve this issue, yet without success, mainly due to the village’s geological and geographical conditions situated on hilly terrain. Therefore, the application of geophysical technology for groundwater exploration was seen as a vital intervention to identify water sources more accurately and efficiently.
Pasirwaru Village Head Ita Suherman confirmed that Cibadak-1 is the most severely affected area during the dry season. The local government typically responds by distributing water using fire trucks. In the rainy season, residents rely on a spring, which is channeled to houses. To prevent contamination of the spring, Pedra and the PKM team provided assistance by constructing a protective spring cover.
Students involved in the 2025 Village Empowerment program included Muhammad Akbar Putra Mahendra (Chair of Pedra), Muhammad Hafizh Fauzan Ajjauzaqi (Vice Chair), Salisa Syifaunajwa Qonitatin (Project Officer of 2025 Village Empowerment ), Natasya Aulia Putri (Deputy Project Officer), Nisriinaa Nasywaa Ariefianty (Head of Externalization), Mochamad Indiana Rinaldy (Head of External Department), as well as committee members and volunteers from the Geology Engineering and Nursing programs. The program was supervised by Dr. Budy Santoso, M.T., who also serves as the Head of the Unpad PKM program, with PKM team members Bambang Wijatmoko, S.Si., M.T., and Liu Kin Men, S.Si., M.T.
The groundwater investigation used the Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) method with a Schlumberger configuration. Electrode spreads ranged from 400 to 550 meters depending on topography. Data interpretation identified a promising aquifer at a depth of 87–135 meters. Drilling is planned to reach a depth of approximately 120 meters.
Groundwater drilling in Pasirwaru Village requires substantial funding, estimated at around IDR 150 million. To support this, Pedra collaborated with Rumah Wakaf Foundation, Rumah Zakat Foundation, and Teladan Rasul Foundation to organize fundraising efforts. On July 19th, 2025, drilling commenced with a cornerstone laying ceremony attended by: Muhammad Akbar Putra Mahendra (Pedra Chair), Septian Nugroho (Rumah Wakaf), Diki Permana (Rumah Zakat), Ust. Arif Rahman Lubis (Teladan Rasul), Ita Suherman (Village Head of Pasirwaru). This clean water initiative is expected to bring lasting benefits to the people of Pasirwaru, significantly improving their quality of life and public health.
Other 2025 Village Empowerment activities in Pasirwaru Village included stunting education and posyandu (integrated health post) outreach. According to the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) of Garut Regency, Pasirwaru is among the areas with a high number of stunting cases in the Blubur Limbangan District. To help address this, health outreach was held at local elementary schools and for the general public. The speaker for this session was Syukur Hamdan Damayadi Limbong, a Nursing student at Unpad. This health initiative supports SDG Goal 2 (Zero Hunger) and Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being) by addressing malnutrition and increasing awareness of maternal and child health.
