In Focus

Water is essential for all aspects of life. People need water to sustain their lives. In normal situation, people take it for granted that clean water will flow out from their tabs or wells. However, for people in emergency setting such as earthquake effected community where most of the infrastructure has been destroyed, clean water becomes scarce and hard to get.

After conducting rapid assessment on water and sanitation, the team found that there is a big demand of clean water in Sungai Limau sub-district, Padang Pariaman district as the wells water was contaminated with mud. On October 7, 2009, CWS has set up three bladders each with 5,000 liter capacity to provide water to people in three villages in Sungai Limau sub-district. An additional of eight more bladders have been set up in four villages in Sungai Limau sub-district as well. In total, CWS has provide 55.000 liters of clean water daily to the effected community in Sungai Limau sub-district.

Community members are actively taking part in the activities by providing labor and locally available materials such as coconut wood for platform support. CWS coordinates the provision of clean water with the local water utility (PDAM) in order to fill the bladders and coordinate distribution. CWS also provided technical assistance to PDAM in setting up one bladder for volunteers post in Padang Pariaman district. In collaboration with French Army, packages of one liter water will be delivered to Pinjauwan village.

Access to clean water is essential. Therefore CWS has focused on cleaning the contaminated wells. CWS has cleaned two wells in Sibaruas village, where local communities have actively taken part. In collaboration with the French Army’s post in Padang, the quality of water has been tested and produced good result.

children have access to clean water
(children have access to clean water)