Makassar, Indonesia, Oct 2025 / TRG / On small islands, wastewater is not just a technical issue. It is closely connected to health, clean water, coastal ecosystems, and daily life. In many island communities, domestic wastewater from kitchens, bathrooms, and household activities is often discharged directly into the environment because treatment facilities are limited or not fully functioning. Over time, this can pollute groundwater, coastal waters, and the surrounding marine ecosystem.
A prepublished peer-reviewed study conducted in the Spermonde Islands, Makassar City, explored a simple but promising biological solution: using local bacteria to reduce pollution in domestic wastewater. The study focused on Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a bacterium found in local wastewater samples, and tested its ability to reduce two important pollution indicators: Biochemical Oxygen Demand, or BOD, and Chemical Oxygen Demand, or COD.
BOD and COD may sound technical, but their meaning is simple. They show how much organic pollution is present in wastewater. When BOD and COD are high, water contains more organic waste that can reduce oxygen levels, disturb aquatic life, and create unhealthy environmental conditions. Lowering BOD and COD is therefore important before wastewater is released into the environment.
The researchers collected wastewater samples from six locations in the Spermonde Islands and identified bacteria using MALDI-TOF MS. They then tested Pseudomonas aeruginosa in a simple 5-liter ex situ bioreactor. Different bacterial concentrations were tested, namely 0%, 5%, 10%, and 15%, with incubation times of 2, 4, 6, and 8 days.
The results were promising. Pseudomonas aeruginosa reduced BOD by 64–77% and COD by 63–77%. Interestingly, increasing the bacterial concentration did not significantly improve the result. Instead, incubation time was more important. The best reduction occurred on day 6. This means that giving bacteria enough time to work may be more useful than simply adding more bacteria.
This issue is directly related to SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being, because better wastewater treatment can reduce disease risks. It also supports SDG 1: No Poverty, as affordable wastewater technology can reduce community vulnerability. SDG 4: Quality Education is reflected in the need to educate communities about sanitation and biological treatment. SDG 14: Life Below Water is strongly connected because untreated wastewater can damage coastal and marine ecosystems. SDG 15: Life on Land is relevant because wastewater pollution also affects land, soil, and groundwater quality. Finally, SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals is needed to connect universities, government, communities, and sanitation programs.
However, the study also reminds us that Pseudomonas aeruginosa can be an opportunistic pathogen. Therefore, its use must be carefully controlled through closed reactors and final disinfection. The message is clear: local microbes can become local solutions. With proper safety management, bioremediation may offer a practical, low-cost, and sustainable way to improve wastewater treatment on small islands.
Reference
DOI:
10.46488/NEPT.2026.v25i02.D1843
Contact:
Dr.Agus Bintara Birawida
+62 85241800050
agusbirawida@unhas.ac.id
