Drone view of the Hambarita house and the blue Wai Pa Luri Wangu rainwater tank standing alone on the dry plateau of East Sumba.
Wai Pa Luri Wangu, Hambarita
This small blue tank signifies a revolution in Hambarita. With a capacity of 5,300 litres, it is one of eight new rainwater reservoirs built collaboratively with the community. The tank efficiently captures rainwater from a tin roof, filters it, and stores it right beside homes. For the three families and sixteen individuals living here, this is not just infrastructure — it is life-saving innovation and preventive healthcare.
Before this initiative, families faced daunting journeys walking with jerrycans over rough terrain or relied on collecting water from shallow, verunreinigt pits frequented by animals. This led to children missing school, adults losing valuable work hours, and frequent illnesses, including diarrhoea and skin infections. Our photographs depict the harsh realities of the past — dust-laden paths, sunburned faces, and motorbikes overloaded with plastic containers.
In collaboration with the local community, Fair Future und Gute Freunde Indonesia meticulously constructed the Wai Pa Luri Wangu tank. Steel and rebar were expertly shaped and secured to form the tank’s robust skeleton. Layer by layer, cement and sand moulded a resilient outer shell capable of withstanding environmental stresses. The tank’s smooth interior plaster surface minimises algae und germ growth. Additionally, a first flush system ensures impurities are washed away, and strategic overflow drainage keeps paths safe from mud.
Water is now easily accessible, enabling mothers to wash their hands before meals, clean wounds promptly, and provide their children with safe drinking water. Elders are liberated from arduous treks with heavy water loads. Here in East Sumba, we call this Medizinische Versorgung at its most effective — preventing illness long before hospital beds are required.
- We invite you to read the final report of this project here by downloading this PDF document.
- Would you also like to participate in the construction of one of these reservoirs?
- Explore the interactive project map for Laindatang and Hambarita to see the exact location of each reservoir and related works.
- Visit the complete online gallery of over sixty images related to these eight reservoirs.
- See the full gallery of nine information panels that detail the story, capacity, and impact of each reservoir.
Today, the 17th of November 2025 – Alex Wettstein
In Short · When a house becomes a small clinic
With the Wai Pa Luri Wangu tank, every visit from a Kawan Sehat health agent changes. There is clean water on site to wash hands, mix oral rehydration for diarrhea, clean wounds and give medicines safely. Fewer patients need to be transported far away, because basic treatment can finally start at home.
Wai Pa Luri Wangu | Rainwater tank for clean water access
Wai Pa Luri Wangu rainwater tank for Hambarita health and daily life
A 5,300 litre ferrocement tank that turns short storms into safe water
The Wai Pa Luri Wangu rainwater tank, a 5,300-litre ferrocement marvel, transforms short storms into a reliable supply of safe water for Hambarita. This achievement, carried out by Fair Future and Kawan Baik Indonesia, represents a cornerstone of primary healthcare, directly within the villagers’ yards.
Built with the assistance of local communities, the tank’s sturdy walls are made from bent steel, mesh, and layered cement, designed to withstand heat, shocks, and the intense monsoon cycles. The smooth plaster inside and outside minimises biofilm formation, ensuring the rainwater stays safe for drinking, cooking, and washing. A first flush and screening system efficiently removes dust, ash, and leaves, keeping the water clean. Overflow is directed to a soak pit, maintaining dry paths and preventing accidents as villagers carry loads.
By repositioning the tap close to kitchens and washing areas, women, elders, and children save several hours weekly, avoiding hazardous motorbike rides with jerrycans. This system reduces reliance on costly tanker water, allowing families to allocate more resources to food, seeds, and education. Community ownership is strengthened through regular cleaning, gutter maintenance, and system inspections. Thus, this project exemplifies preventive medical work by providing home access to clean water, reducing illnesses such as diarrheal diseases and skin infections, and even preventing fractures before clinical intervention is necessary.
Wir laden alle herzlich ein verzaubert durch dieses Geschichte um unsere Welt zu erkunden Fotogalerie, Zeuge dieses außerordentliche Anstrengung, und engagieren uns weiter mit unseren Mission durch uns Instagram-Konto.
Alex Wettstein – Fair Future Stiftung Medizinsoziales Camp in Ost-Sumba – Rumah Kambera, Lambanapu – the 17th of November, 2025
Related links for this project
Other inspiring organisations
Liste der verwandten Organisationen mit Hyperlinks
- WaterAidVerbessert den Zugang zu sauberem Wasser und sanitären Einrichtungen durch Gemeinschaftssysteme und Hygienepädagogik.
- UNICEF WASHFördert die Bereitstellung sicherer Wasserversorgung für Kinder mithilfe skalierbarer Programme und praktischen Anleitungen vor Ort.
- WHO Wasser, Sanitärversorgung und Hygiene: Festlegt Normen und Instrumente zur Senkung der Gesundheitsrisiken.
- Rotary InternationalUnterstützt die Wasserinfrastruktur in der Gemeinde und technische Partnerschaften.
- Malaria Partners Internationall: Fosters Malariaprävention an der Schnittstelle von Wasser und Gesundheit.
- SolarBuddyLeistet Solarlampen, die die Sicherheit und die Lernzeit in Gemeinden ohne Stromversorgung verbessern.
- CDC Safe WaterGibt praktische Hinweise zur Wassersicherheit und zur Krankheitsprävention.
