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In Klaten, an interfaith 'salvation' through rainwater
Hundreds of water-filled plastic bottles stand neatly arranged in rows on the fence around St
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undreds of water-filled plastic bottles stand neatly arranged in rows on the fence around St. Petrus & Paulus Church in Tangkil in Klaten, Central Java.
On the ground, bottles stretch as far as the church door, while two immense cones of bottles topping 8 meters take the shape of Christmas trees on the terrace.
Inside, bottles are attached to pillars and blend into the background of the platform where priests deliver their sermons.
The church has been decorated by the students of M. Jazuli A. Kasman, also known as Gus Jazuli, the principal of Pondok Pesantren Almuttaqien Pancasila Sakti Islamic boarding school in Sumberejo.
'A cultural movement can be launched regardless of religion. It's about how we can do good for fellow citizens,' said Gus Jazuli. 'There's no need to ask from whom virtue comes and for whom it's meant.'
Water-filled plastic bottles also adorn the homes of the residents of Surowono, including that of Parijo, 54.
Inside the house of the corn farmer, bottles are suspended artistically by colorful plastic string in wavy patterns.
Some 200 bottles hang on the veranda, while inside, 10 bottles sit on a table and yet more stand on the buffet, all filled with rainwater.
For the last two years, the residents of Surowono have been collecting rainwater to meet their daily needs.
'Previously, I had to buy from tanker-truck distributors,' said Parijo, who uses the rainwater for washing and mixing cattle feed.
Another Surowono resident, Minto Darmo, 67, said that he and his neighbors had long collected rainwater in buckets and drums, or in large concrete water tanks specially built by well-to-do families.
The practice, according to him, was prompted by water scarcity during the dry season in the hamlet, located about 10 kilometers from the peak of the volcanic Mount Merapi.
Stories of people drilling wells 50-meters deep without striking water are commonplace in Surowono and other areas on the eastern slope of the mountain.
Residents finally resorted to rainwater as a solution, at least for washing and bathing.
'People here have spent a lot of money to meet their water needs,' Minto said. 'Just imagine, one tank of water can only be consumed for a week, meaning we have to spend Rp 300,000 (US$24) to Rp 400,000 per month. The villages lying behind Surowono are less fortunate. Their remote locations from main roads raise the water price to Rp 150,000 per tank.'
Although the local administration supplied clean water to the community, albeit sporadically, quantities were never adequate, Minto said.
'It's up to the local government to provide the aid. One tanker usually is meant for residents in one neighborhood. After lining up and sometimes tussling, each of us can take home only two buckets on average.'
Kirjito, Pr., the priest at the church in Surowono, has been appealing to the community since 2011 to appreciate rainwater through his sermons and messages at art events.
'They collected rainwater but they kept buying mineral water for drinking. They felt embarrassed to serve their guests with drinks prepared from rainwater. Now they're no longer ashamed of it,' Romo Kir, as Kirjito is commonly called, pointed out.
Romo Kir has also invited other religious figures from the community, including Gus Jazuli and Susilo Eko Pramono (Gus Susilo) from Pondok Pesantren Sunan Kalijaga in Dengkeng; Suryanto Tri Pranoto, a Javanese-Hindu priest from Jiwan; and Sarminto, a Hindu priest in Sidorejo, to campaign for rainwater consumption.
'If all regions are forced to overcome water scarcity by drilling wells, our environment will be severely damaged. Regional heads, especially those in major cities ' including Jokowi ' should start campaigning for rainwater consumption to conserve the environment,' Romo Kir said, referring to Jakarta Governor Joko Widodo.
The religious leaders do not advise drinking rainwater directly from rooftops or tree leaves, advising residents to collect the water in containers covered with cloths or filters to remove impurities, mostly dust.
In Surowono, people also use tarpaulins to channel water into containers before it is poured into used mineral water bottles, earthen jugs or large bowls.
'Now I can consume rainwater even without boiling it first. I've also served my guests with the same water and they've never complained of a stomachache or other sickness,' Minto said.
The local religious leaders have cultivated a culture of rainwater retention. On Christmas Day, for example, the cones currently in front of the church were part of a procession for the holiday.
Gus Jazuli said people should not rely on the government. 'Residents should be independent. We express our deep gratitude to God by utilizing rainwater in this fashion. Despite the absence of water springs, the people here no longer face water scarcity.'
Romo Kir echoed his comments. 'Let's begin nurturing our love of rainwater. We should never again regard rainwater as disaster.'
'Now we see it as a blessing bestowed on us by God.'
