On the ground

Water scarcity during the dry season prevents adequate access for a growing population. In the Loi neighbourhood, women must walk up to three kilometres to fetch water. At schools, sanitation facilities are in very poor condition.

The Loi neighbourhood in Buar village faces severe water shortages, a common problem in the region. Its isolated, mountainous location worsens the situation, as prolonged dry seasons significantly reduce water availability in rivers, springs, and wells—especially during the driest months.

Population growth in Buar has increased the demand for drinking water, but there is an inadequate supply to meet daily needs. Most families depend on communal wells and natural springs, which often dry up during the dry season due to the lack of reliable water storage and distribution systems.

In Buar, the rainy season lasts approximately four to six months per year, resulting in high water availability during this period. However, villagers in Loi must walk up to three kilometres to reach the Nanu spring, spending about 40 minutes carrying heavy water containers.

The implementation of a new water source is essential, not only to relieve villagers—mainly women—of this burden, but also to store surplus rainwater for later use. This will benefit the community by improving access to drinking water and enabling the cultivation of vegetables and gardening, thereby enhancing the quality of life.

Meanwhile, schools in Nanu sub-village rely on a single spring, used daily for sanitation and community consumption. This spring’s flow decreases during the dry season, forcing villagers to wait 15–20 minutes in line to collect water. Water only reaches the school every two or three days and requires approval from village authorities. Students must walk to the spring to fetch clean water for sanitation during school hours, losing valuable learning time.

 The school toilets are in very poor condition, the sewer system is damaged, there is no lighting, and the doors are broken. Some children from Loi also attend Nanu Primary School, lacking access to water both at home and at school.

In detail

The project development phases are as follows:

1. Ensuring active community participation

 From design to educational implementation and maintenance, strengthening the sense of ownership is crucial to guarantee lasting and sustainable results. During the needs assessment process, coordination with stakeholders is essential.

This coordination includes:

• Surveys to assess specific needs in the Loi neighbourhood, the primary school, and the kindergarten.
• Meetings with community groups, school committees, and local leaders, including women’s groups (Dasawisma), youth organisations (Forum Anak), and religious leaders, to define roles and contributions.
• Establishing and training a Water Committee and teachers so that, as the project develops, they can cascade knowledge to the wider community.

The goal is to empower the community to raise awareness about maintaining project outcomes and fully adopting proper hygiene practices.

2. Planning implementation methods

Considering Buar village’s geographic characteristics and community needs, this project applies the following methodologies:

• A geoelectric study is necessary to identify groundwater potential, given the mountainous terrain.
• Well drilling and water distribution system with around 30 points.
• A solar-powered pumping system was chosen because conventional electricity sources are limited in the area. This ensures greater sustainability and lower ecological impact than motorised pumps.
• Construction of toilets for men and women, following Indonesian standards with pour-flush squat toilets and dual-chamber septic tanks.
• Commissioning and water quality testing. The technical team tests water quality before construction to determine its suitability for human consumption. Once the clean water access point is built, the Water Committee ensures compliance with quality standards.
• Monitoring and evaluation with community participation. Construction and infrastructure impacts are tracked. Data is collected through technical inspections, water quality tests, and community surveys to measure availability, usage, and perceived benefits. Challenges and maintenance needs are identified to improve and adjust the project for long-term sustainability and effectiveness.

Children are involved in all phases of developing water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities. Their participation is crucial in creating spaces that cater to their specific needs and promote hygiene. It encourages ownership and responsibility, ensures accessibility with adapted features, and empowers children by giving them a voice in decision-making. Their involvement increases hygiene awareness and fosters positive behaviour change. It also helps design inclusive facilities, especially for children with disabilities. During the design stage, children advocate for their needs and challenges in using the toilets for sanitation activities.

Prospectives for Sustainability

This project ensures a long-term impact by involving local beneficiaries in all stages, from design to implementation and maintenance.

As part of the sustainability strategy, the community is engaged actively from the beginning. Once consensus is reached, a Water Committee is established to manage and maintain the newly built water facilities and promote hygiene training. They are trained in technical maintenance aspects and educated on the fundamentals of healthy practices.