T

he significance of water for human survival is not in question. But with more and more people choosing to live in cities, the question arises whether there is an adequate supply of clean and safe water.

A study by the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) has concluded that Jakarta’s water quantity and quality is degrading due to, among other reasons, increased population.

The burgeoning urban population increases water consumption, in some case through over pumping of ground water, while at the same time groundwater is diminishing due to lack of water catchment areas caused by the increasing number of buildings and roads.

Another study by the Jakarta Environmental Management Agency (BPLH DKI) in 2008 found that the amount of clean water that meets the required standards for consumption in Jakarta is decreasing and ranges between 7 and 30 percent in the five municipalities. West Jakarta is the lowest, with only 7 percent of its water fit for consumption.

The above studies clearly show that there is an insufficient supply of clean water in large urban centers like Jakarta. City dwellers’ lack of access to clean water has been worsened by the public’s irresponsible habits, such as disposing of garbage in the canals, which not only clogs the waterways and causes frequent flooding that affects residents living near the river but also results in water pollution.

According to the World Bank Jakarta office, almost 20 percent of the city’s daily waste ends up in local rivers, canals and waterways, reducing their ability to handle floodwater and drainage by as much as 50 percent.

Household waste from toilets and laundry detergents, for example, seeps into groundwater. But the groundwater acquired from drilled wells is again used for household purposes as many residents mistakenly regard the water as clean water; whereas, the water has been contaminated with E-coli bacteria, which may endanger health.

Solving water supply and sanitation problems in cities is surely a challenging task given the complexity of the issue. Apart from the rising demand for clean water due to the increasing urban population, human factors also contribute significantly to the clean water-related problems in an urban environment.

Thus, tackling the water problem is not only the responsibility of the government whose funds and resources are limited but also the responsibility of every citizen.

Aware of the need to maintain the sustainability of clean water in urban areas, several companies are taking an active part in solving clean water-related problems.

PT Coca-Cola Amatil Indonesia (PT CCAI), for example, runs several programs related to water and environment management.

The company set up a Coca-Cola Waterways Education Center (CWEC) in 2010 on the banks of the Ciliwung River in Menteng Tenggulun, South Jakarta, which serves as a community learning center for environment and waste management as well as a pilot project to raise awareness on better environment management.

This program is a “gift” for Jakarta’s anniversary and was handed over to city governor, Fauzi Bowo, and has also been visited by environmental activist Erna Witoelar several weeks ago.

“By establishing CWEC we can set an example for the community about taking care of our rivers and managing waste properly. Our main goal is to raise awareness among the wider public about environmental issues in general, and Ciliwung River in particular, and how we can contribute to preserve our environment,” said PT CCAI national corporate affairs manager Deva Rachman.

PT CCAI activities in this project include cleaning the river from the CWEC location to Manggarai water gate (around 4 kilometers) on a regular basis every morning and afternoon, conducting research to provide daily rubbish and water sampling analysis, separating organic and inorganic waste and processing it into compost, creating awareness and educating the Jakarta community about clean river maintenance especially the youth through CWEC and more.

“We know that this is not much, but at least we want to be an inspiration for other people to do the same thing. It’s not only the responsibility of one particular company. It’s the responsibility of the whole nation,” Deva Rachman added.

Another program to solve clean water-related problems in urban areas is Water Access, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) run by Danone AQUA.

In collaboration with a national NGO Bina Mandiri, the company has helped at least 320 people in Bekasi to set up a water committee, install a bio sand filtration system and build a managed-public toilet.

Besides, Danone AQUA has rehabilitated the drainage system and the provision of water infrastructure in several areas in Bekasi.

It has facilitated more than 400 households and 600 students in Medan Satria district, Bekasi, to improve their personal hygiene habits through training, regular promoting sessions and several events, to ensure that the necessary skills are in place for the sustainability of the constructed facilities.

The problem of lack of access to clean water in Indonesia, however, is also faced by residents living in rural areas, including those living close to mining sites. In this regard, major mining companies have also helped communities tackle such problems.

Residents of Padang Panjang and Dahai village, South Kalimantan, had been facing problem of lack of access to clean water because the villages located in lowlands are unable to obtain clean groundwater.

This problem has driven mining company PT Adaro Energy Tbk. to produce clean water from its mine waste through a treatment plant known as WTP T300.