For more than forty families, we will assist with access to clean water in Kambajawa – Praiwora.

This project aims to drill a deep well this August to complete this access to clean water by the end of the current month. Above all, it seeks to provide access to water to more than forty families who no longer have access to it and live in difficult conditions.

Hello Kawan, how are you today?

During an interview in June 2022 with the regents of East Sumba, our friend Kawan Khristofel Praing asked us if the Foundation could do something to help some forty families who live in the town of Waingapu but who do have no access to water for years. We replied that we would see what we could do in Praiwora. We, therefore, went there twice to discuss with the families and take stock of the situation. We offer you a small summary of what we have done and will put in place in this village.

What is the current situation of these families?

First, there are no wells or boreholes in this village. On the other hand, we analyze the ground with our underground water detector, finding that water is available between 20m and 50m deep.

Forty families have difficulty accessing water. Almost all the houses are served by the city’s water service  –Perusahaan Daerah Air Minum or PDAM- but for more than five years, no water has come out of the pipes, only air. During the rainy season, only a tiny quantity of water comes out, which can be counted in drops but is mainly insufficient to supply families with water.

A 2,000-litre tank is on-site but empty most of the time. There is no water available to fill it. Villagers draws water from a river about one kilometre from the nearest house and most families shower and also go to the toilet in this river at the bottom of the hill. 

On the other hand, the water bill continues to operate. Indeed, each family continues to pay on average IDR. 100,000 a month, and they have to pay that amount. This is a considerable sum for these families with little income, especially for not having water.

We met about thirty people from this community, and the first assistant of the Regent of Sumba East was also present. Praiwora village has not received any assistance so far, except for a 2,000-litre tank which is mostly always empty. To fill it, water trucks would have to be ordered. But nobody does it because families continue to pay close to IDR.100,000.- per month for not having water but air.

We’ve offered to try to re-establish communication with PDAM, but there’s no way the water will ever come out of the pipes again. Indeed, the quantity of water distributed by the state services PDAM and the public pressure do not allow water to reach this village.

During a working evening, we again asked Khristofel Praing if a solution could be found for the PDAM. The Regent confirmed that he had discussed it with them, but there was no possible solution for this village of Praiwora.

The community draws water from a river about one kilometre from the nearest house to meet drinking water needs. Most families shower and also go to the toilet in this river at the bottom of the hill. Some families can count on the help of their relatives who bring water from their homes from time to time.

The solution we have chosen is to give them access to clean water through a borehole which we will drill before the end of August 2002, with our drilling machine:

Thanks to our groundwater research equipment, our teams found several points where one or more water sources are located. The shallowest is at a depth of about 25 meters, which is shallow and therefore easy for drilling. But it is more prudent to say between 30 and 50 meters to have a more reasonable margin. Above all, the shallowest point is often not the best to ensure access to water in quantity over time.

Access is excellent as it is still within the town of Waingapu.

In addition to the potential for participation and safety based on our observations and the information we gathered, the community decided that the residents would have to work and collaborate with us to help with the drilling process. This is according to the Foundation’s fundamental principles, which always ask for the help of the beneficiaries. This includes the possible construction by our teams of a clean water storage tank of around 6,000 litres.

The working principle is linked to a collaboration with the authorities

To start an effective and stable long-term partnership, Fair Future requested the help of the local government for this project. The same goes for projects initiated in collaboration with the authorities.

In another meeting with the Regent of East Sumba and his first assistant, it was agreed that for this particular project, Fair Future would provide the drilling and casing of the well, which is almost 75% of the price of a fully equipped deep borehole.

The local government (PEMDA) will provide him with pumping equipment such as pipes, the submersible pump, any dynamos and the truck to transport our drill, which weighs more than two tons, to the drilling site. In addition, he may have more than one drilling done because, in rare cases, he can fail due to a “Water Los” problem. The drill head reaches the water table and can cross it if it is too wet, then the water escapes like when you remove the stopper from your bathtub.

You can help Fair Future in this project if you feel like it.

Dates of Photos: July 2022 | Location: Kambajawa – Praiwora