Kampung Bangka in Pontianak city, West Kalimantan, lies on the banks of the Kapuas River—the longest river in Indonesia. It is home to 103 families, who mostly earn a living from casual labor. The locals rely on the river water for bathing and laundry. Although most households in this area have connections to piped water service from Pontianak City’s Water Utility, some still collect and cook rainwater for drinking rather than use the piped water, as they do not like how the piped water tastes.
However, the use of these water sources is often disrupted during the long drought, as happened in 2017. During the prolonged dry season, rainwater is not available, and the river water turns brackish due to seawater intrusion. When the rainy season comes, the Kapuas River is contaminated with more organic elements from peat water, which turns the color into brown and red.
Some families who live on the Kapuas’ riverbanks belong to low-income groups. As such, having safely managed drinking water facilities is not yet a priority. Additionally, some people also lack the knowledge of the importance of having safely managed drinking water to protect their health.
Two Kampung Bangka’s residents are Mr. Faisal and Ms. Susilawati. Here are their stories:
The Story of Faisal: Waiting for the Drinking Water Grant Program
Faisal is one of ten families in Kampung Bangka who are not connected to Pontianak Water Utility’s piped water services. Instead, Faisal and his wife collect rainwater for cooking and drinking and use Kapuas River water for bathing and laundry.
“The situation is very challenging when piped water is not available, especially when the Kapuas River water recedes or turns murky,” he said.
As a casual laborer, Faisal’s family does not have sufficient financial resources to pay for the water pipe installation. Thus, Faisal expects to receive a government drinking water grant program for low-income families.
The Story of Susilawati: Live More Comfortably with Piped Water Services
Although piped water is available at home, Susilawati and her family still use river water for bathing during the days and piped water for cooking. She paid 1.5 million Rupiah (approximately US $100) for the pipe installation fees and has been using Pontianak Water Utility’s piped water service since October 2022. She still collects and cooks rainwater for the drinking as her family dislikes the piped water taste. However, the good thing is that Susilawati no longer has to worry about fetching water in the river when she and her family need water at night.
Available in 
