The Ministry of Health underscores the importance of maintaining clean water for drinking, cooking, bathing, and other essential uses, as it plays a crucial role in preventing diseases like diarrhea, cholera, skin infections, and poisoning (kemkes.go.id). The WHO also notes that limited access to clean and safe drinking water worsens stunting issues, as contaminated water can impede nutrient absorption in young children, significantly heightening the risk of stunting.

Access to clean water remains a pressing challenge for many households in Indonesia. According to data from the Indonesian Association of Drinking Water Companies, as reported by cnbcindonesia.com, only 19.47% of households had access to clean water in 2023. A 2015 UNICEF survey further highlighted that in eight out of ten households, the responsibility for securing water falls primarily on women and girls. When clean water is scarce and difficult to obtain, this burden intensifies for women, impacting their well-being and potentially increasing the risk of stunting in young children.

A water depot, where raw water is processed into drinking water and directly distributed to the community, serves as a crucial source of safe drinking water. In July 2024, two such depots were established in Ai Kangkung Village and Tatar Village, West Sumbawa Regency (KSB), bolstering government efforts to accelerate the reduction of stunting. This project is a collaboration between Yayasan CARE Peduli (YCP), PT Amman Mineral Nusa Tenggara (AMMAN), and the KSB Government as part of the Stunting Reduction Acceleration Program, aimed at preventing and mitigating stunting by ensuring the community has access to safe drinking water.

Yarid Tangdililing, WASH Specialist at YCP, highlighted that the strategic location of these water depots within the village has significantly eased the burden on women, who traditionally handle water collection. “Previously, women had to walk about 2 kilometers to obtain clean water. Now, with these depots, women and children have convenient access to safe drinking water right in their village,” he explained.

Ai Kangkung Village, located in Sekongkang District, has a notably high rate of stunting among young children, according to Moh. Solihin, the Village Head. He has committed to supporting the stunting reduction program by offering free drinking water to families with stunted children. “We aim to lower the stunting rates in our village and enhance community awareness about the importance of safe drinking water for the health of all family members,” he stated.

The provision of free safe drinking water stems from an agreement by the Water Committee, a group of six members appointed by the village and supported by YCP for the maintenance and management of the water depots. Alongside supporting the stunting reduction program, the Water Committee also manages the water depot operations, which serve as a revenue source for the village.

Over 1,750 residents in Ai Kangkung and Tatar Villages now have access to safe drinking water through local water depots, each producing an average of 140 gallons per day. These depots effectively supply the daily requirement of 2 liters per person, as recommended by the Indonesian Ministry of Health, ensuring that the community’s water needs are met.

In addition to Ai Kangkung and Tatar Villages, YCP established and began operating water depots in Talonang Baru and Sekongkang Atas Villages in October 2023. These depots provide clean water to the communities and support the stunting reduction program.

Muhamad Ikraman, Project Manager at YCP, announced plans to expand the initiative with two additional depots. “Altogether, the six depots will supply 1,300 gallons of water per day, serving around 6,000 people. We will construct two more depots in August 2024, one in Dusun Talonang, Talonang Baru Village, and another in Dusun Jelangga, Beru Village. By making safe drinking water more accessible, we aim to reduce the burden on women who collect water and further accelerate stunting reduction efforts,” he explained.

Writer: Nurainy Darono
Editor: Swiny Adestika