The increasing land conversions from forests to agriculture and settlements may potentially decrease water sources availability and quality in Kupang district. The Master Plan for the Water Supply System (RISPAM) of Kupang district reveals that the spring capacity is insufficient to meet the drinking water needs of all the district residents. Baumata Spring, as one of the PDAM’s primary water sources, also faces the same issue. The water quality testing carried out by PDAM and some universities showed the presence of E. Coli contamination.
Protecting the quantity and quality of Baumata Spring is the responsibility of all parties, including the community. Hence, USAID IUWASH Tangguh and Nusa Cendana University of Kupang, trained 23 community members of Baumata Village to monitor water quality and quantity (WQQ) on July 6, 2023.
During the training, the participants learned to measure pH and Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)—simple parameters for water quality. They measured water quality at the water sources and in river, which often serve as locations for washing activities. This water quality testing is necessary to see the influence of human activities on water quality. The measurement results showed an increase in the TDS value before and after washing activities, indicating the presence of water contamination due to human activities.
The testing results have increased community’s awareness to protect the quality and quantity of water source. For instance, Sara Kabelak, who proposes a village regulation to maintain water source quality. “I suggest that the village government issues a regulation to forbid community to do laundry around the spring, so that the water quality is getting better,” said Sara Kabelak.
Another Baumata villager, Ischak Lalus, proposes an action plan to replant the upstream area to maintain the spring capacity. “When Seroja typhoon stroke in 2020, around 200 trees in the forest fell. We believe that the incidence will affect the water capacity in the future. Thus, it is better to start planting trees in the forest to replace the fallen ones,” closed Ischak Lalus.
Available in 
