Formulating a new watsan project in Indonesia

In Tangerang more than 40 % of the inhabitants have no access to clean tap water and sanitary facilities. This mission we are giving shape to the new Water Operator Partnership in cooperation with the local government and are focussing on an integral approach. One of the activities of the new partnership will be the improvement of the sanitary and drinking water conditions in a certain part in Tangerang. According to recent research, there is a continuous threat of the breakout of deceases such as bird influenza or other epidemic deceases related to water. Safe tap water and sanitation are inseparably connected to each other. The supply of tap water creates a sanitation problem that needs to be solved. Inadequate sanitation is a risk for health and in this respect sanitation comprises waste water collection, sewerage, ground water- and surface water control, sanitary provisions (toilets, bathrooms, sinks), hygiene (washing hands). By working on drinking water as well as sanitation, we hope to improve the situation in this area in a sustainable way so that the overall health of people will be improved.
The process is going slow. In Indonesia PDAMs are responsible for the supply of safe tap water. The responsibility for sanitation however is not clearly determined. Today we had a meeting with the officials of the Ministry of Health, PDAM/Perpamsi Banten, Women Union and NGO organisations. Today NRE (Mr. Jaap van der Velden) emphasized once more how important it is to stimulate and promote more negotiation between the drinking water companies and local authorities; something which has been done by World Waternet from the very first beginning.

Paul Bonne