Clean water is now everywhere

The wind carries a strong smell of the sea mixed with fumes across Kamal Muara road. It blows fast as the sky is getting cloudier. One hour of rain will mean one day of coastal flooding.

Indah, 47, doesn’t give a thought to the coming flood. Like other residents living in north Kamal Muara, she is familiar with the floods.

“It happens at least once a week and it’s getting more intense during the rainy season,” says Indah, explaining what happens in her community.

The water has nowhere to go in RT (neighborhood unit) 7, RW (community unit) 4 where Indah lives. The water flows under the house, in front of the homes, and across the alleys.

There is no other choice for the community members except to plunge into the dirty water to get where they need to go. It’s more than brown, it is black and filthy.

Water was a major issue in RT 7. There was no drinking water source except rain water which was not hygienic enough to fulfill family daily activities.

Kamal Muara is included in the 40 per cent of Jakarta residents who can’t access clean water, according to the 2015 Jakarta Water Management Agency’s data.

Families in RT 7 could only buy water in jerry cans sold by the water seller.

"The price is 4,000 rupiahs (30 cents USD) for 15 liters of water. For some, of us who work as fishermen, we find it too expensive,” Indah said.

The situation lasted for a long time in RT 7 until WV Indonesia (WVI) started a water intervention project, after working with community members to identify the main issue in the neighborhood. 

Clean water is located in a central area so that residents can easily reach it. The project is now managed by the entire community and led by Indah and her husband.

“This water tank helps us a lot. The stored water here is clean and it even tastes better than water provided by government,” Indah husband’s Anwar shares about the benefits of the water tank. “We sell it for a cheaper price. It’s like 7,000 rupiah (50 cents USD) for 5 jerry cans."

With the water tank near the houses, people of RT 7 can now access water easily. Indah reported that the revenue from selling water is used to buy water for the next week’s needs. The surplus money is saved for RT 7’s needs like supporting the Early Childhood Care and Development center in their community.

“Alhamdullilah, we thank WV for helping us. Now, we can get clear water every day,” said Indah happily, proud of the two water tanks in her neighborhood.

From now on, though coastal flooding will still come with the rain, people of RT 7 will have clean water for their daily needs.

~Written by Rena Tanjung, Field Communication WV Indonesia