Clean water reservoir in Laindatang

Building foundations for long-term community health

Starting this 115,000-litre reservoir in Laindatang meant carving a path into a hill that has never known clean water. To bring the small excavator up there, our teams from Fair Future and Kawan Baik spent days repairing the broken limestone road, pushing stones by hand, guiding the machine metre by metre. On this slope, everything slips: trucks, scooters, people. But without this work, the reservoir’s foundation would simply be impossible.

Once on site, we rechecked every measurement. A structure of this size needs absolute precision because the foundation determines water quality, filtration, and long-term safety. The 300 tonnes of gravel, sand, and cement that will follow the excavator require space, organisation, and the constant presence of people who know this land.

For three days, the excavator cut through the soft limestone basin, revealing the shape of Laindatang’s future water source. This is the first time this hill will receive reliable access to clean water. Families here often spend hours every week collecting a few litres that are not always safe to drink. Waterborne diseases affect children first: diarrhoea, skin infections, dehydration, and repeated fevers.

This work marks the beginning of something vital. A reservoir that will reduce illness, strengthen the community, and give this village what every human being should have: safe water near their home.

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 9th of December, 2025