Eight Reservoirs of Life: Ferrocement Water Tanks Transform Hambarita – Laindatang
From Dry Land to Living Water: How Eight Ferrocement Tanks Are Changing Hundreds of Lives
Eight ferrocement reservoirs now bring safe water and health to Hambarita.
Today marks a significant milestone for Hambarita–Laindatang, a remote and arid region where access to clean water has long been a distant dream.
The Fair Future Foundation and Kawan Baik Indonesia have officially allocated the final tranche of funding to complete the last two of eight ferrocement water reservoirs, each with a capacity of 5,300 litres. This final investment of 18,800 Swiss francs (about IDR. 320,000,000) has brought life and practical solutions to this community.
These eight reservoirs are not just structures of cement and steel but vital lifelines that link health and wellbeing. For the first time, around 100 people in Hambarita–Laindatang have consistent access to clean, safe water. This access significantly reduces child mortality, limits the spread of waterborne diseases, and lays a foundation for improved nutrition, hygiene, and overall quality of life.
The project has taken years to develop, from initial concept designs to overcoming the complex logistical and construction challenges of working in ultra-rural East Sumba. The final funds have been transferred today, 08.07.2025, and work on reservoirs seven and eight is underway, with completion within reach. Alongside these tanks, the Fair Future team is on the field finalising a large 113 m³ reservoir, MataWai Urang—the “Source of Rainwater”—destined to become the region’s primary rainwater harvesting system. Together, these initiatives mark an unprecedented leap forward for this impoverished community.
Each of the ferrocement reservoirs bears a culturally meaningful name in the local Sumbanese language, beginning with “Wai,” meaning “water.” These names reflect both their practical purpose and the deep cultural significance of water:
- Wai Maringu — Cold Water
- Wai La Padang — Water in the Field
- Wai Ma Njanjar — Water Flow
- Wai Paluri Wangu — Water for Life
- Wai Pandulang — Rescue Water
- Wai Kahingir — Clean Water
- Wai La Wurung — Water in a Pot
- Wai Ma Hamu — The Best Water
These names embody identity, solutions, and resilience, honouring donors’ generosity and paying tribute to the lives now connected through these precious water sources.
Without these reservoirs, daily life in Hambarita–Laindatang involved arduous journeys for water, with families walking kilometres under the relentless sun to fill jerry cans from unreliable and often unsafe sources. Now, the situation has changed. Clean water is within reach, offering healthier, longer, and more dignified lives.
This is not merely infrastructure; it is a matter of survival. It is health. And above all, this is life.
Today, the 8th of July 2025 – Alex Wettstein
In Short – Water Transforms Lives and Futures
Clean water is not just about health—it represents freedom, dignity, and a better quality of life. In Hambaraita and Laindatang, ferrocement reservoirs end the strenuous daily search for water, freeing up time for work, study, and rest. Children stay in school, women can earn an income, and communities feel pride and hope. People begin planning for farms, businesses, and safer homes, turning what was once mere survival into genuine progress.
Building Ferrocement Reservoirs for Clean Water and Health in Hambarita
List of Related Organisations with Hyperlinks
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WaterAid – Like Fair Future, WaterAid builds sustainable water projects that transform health and hygiene in rural communities.
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Charity Water – Works like Fair Future to deliver clean water to communities, preventing disease and improving lives.
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Global Water Center – Collaborates on water infrastructure and health projects in line with Fair Future’s mission in ultra-rural regions.
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WHO Water Sanitation – Provides guidelines and insights used by Fair Future to ensure water projects reduce disease and save lives.
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UNICEF WASH – Like Fair Future, focuses on clean water access for child health and survival in vulnerable communities.
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Engineers Without Borders – Shares Fair Future’s vision of building water infrastructure to transform lives in remote areas.
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The Water Project – Like Fair Future, helps rural communities gain access to reliable water sources for improved health and resilience.
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IRC WASH – Engages in sustainable water projects similar to Fair Future’s clean water initiatives in ultra-rural settings.
