Laindatang Water Filtration System
Filtering water before disease starts
One of three filtration systems installed on the 115 m³ Laindatang reservoir, filtering rainwater before safe long-term storage.
In Laindatang, clean water begins with filtration.
Before storage, every drop of rain passes through a handmade water filtration system designed to remove debris, organic matter, and insects. This Laindatang water filtration system is a preventative health measure, reducing contamination risks long before water reaches families.
The three filtration systems installed on the Laindatang reservoir are entirely manual. Pipes were cut, aligned, and sealed on site, under extreme heat. Custom-made filters, refined through more than eight years of field experience, were assembled piece by piece to ensure consistent water quality.
These filtration modules serve as the first line of defence. By removing sediment and organic material before water enters the tank, they significantly reduce bacterial growth, parasitic exposure, and long-term contamination. This approach turns water access into preventive medicine, essential for children and vulnerable families.
Every connection was double-checked because maintenance here requires hours of walking and transport. Fair Future Foundation teams worked alongside Kawan Baik Indonesia and villagers, often late into the night, to secure filtration units resistant to wind, rain, and years of use.
Today, the 17th of December 2025 – Alex Wettstein
- Download the updated architectural plans for the Laindatang reservoir here
- Learn more about all nine reservoirs by exploring our dedicated gallery of large information panels placed beside each tank here.
- Explore the interactive project map for Laindatang and Hambarita to see the exact location of each reservoir and related works. View the map here.
- Explore the full online gallery of over 66 images from the Laindatang reservoir project here
In Short – Filtration before storage
Before a single litre enters the reservoir, rainwater passes through handmade filtration modules built on site. These filters remove debris, organic matter, and insects, limiting bacterial growth and contamination during long-term storage. This rigorous but straightforward step transforms rainwater harvesting into a reliable preventive health tool, without chemicals or electricity.
Laindatang Water Filtration Infrastructure
Laindatang Clean Water Reservoir
Medical-grade water safety for rural families
On this hilltop in Laindatang, nothing arrives ready-made. Every pipe, valve, and filter of the 115,000-litre water reservoir was carried, cut, welded, and sealed by hand. Under intense heat, Fair Future Foundation teams worked alongside Kawan Baik Indonesia engineers and villagers to install a system designed to last decades.
This reservoir is more than a container; it is a controlled, medical-grade water system. Drainage valves enable full annual emptying and cleaning. Custom gutters collect rain from an 86-square-metre roof and direct it into handmade filtration modules refined over more than eight years of field testing. These filters remove sediment, organic debris, and insects before water enters the tank, lowering bacterial growth and contamination risks.
Every joint was glued and sealed manually. Each filter unit was checked twice because repairs here require hours of walking and transport. Welding was carried out at night when temperatures dropped, allowing precise work on critical connections. Gutter lines were reinforced to withstand strong winds sweeping the plateau.
This is preventative medicine through infrastructure. Clean water reduces diarrhoeal diseases, skin infections, parasitic exposure, and long-term child health risks. For the families of Laindatang, this system means safety, dignity, and resilience.
None of this would exist without the dedication of the Fair Future Foundation and Kawan Baik Indonesia teams, working with the community, step by step, pipe by pipe, for sustainable health.
We cordially invite all captivated by this story to explore our photo gallery, witness this extraordinary effort, and further engage with our mission through our Instagram account.
Alex Wettstein – Fair Future Foundation medico-social camp in East Sumba – Rumah Kambera, Lambanapu – the 17th of December, 2025
List of Related Organisations with Hyperlinks
- WaterAid: Works globally on sustainable clean water systems, sanitation, and hygiene as primary tools for disease prevention.
- Aguaconsult: Specialists in water engineering and climate-resilient infrastructure for remote and low-resource environments.
- WHO Water Safety Plan Programme: Promotes preventive risk management from water catchment to point of use, including storage and protection.
- IRC WASH: Focuses on long-term functionality of rural water systems through design quality, governance, and community ownership.
- Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology conducts research on safe water storage, prevention of contamination, and water quality in low-income and tropical settings.
- Practical Action: Implements appropriate technologies to improve water access and support climate adaptation in remote and fragile communities.
- SolarBuddy: Provides solar lighting solutions that support water safety, hygiene practices, and health in off-grid communities.
- MSF – Water and Sanitation Units: Delivers emergency and long-term WASH infrastructure as part of medical responses in isolated regions.
