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Water, Energy & Infrastructure

Water Connections

Safe water systems planned, built and maintained with rural communities where no public network exists.

  • 5,300-litre ferrocement tanks
  • 115 m³ reservoir built at Laindatang
  • Rainwater, gravity and solar-pumped systems

Water must reach the home before disease does

In rural East Sumba, water may be several kilometres away, seasonal or visibly unsafe. A reservoir, protected source and working pipe change more than convenience. They change hydration, hygiene, food preparation and the daily exposure of children to preventable infection.

The programme

Water infrastructure built around health

Without a public network, every litre depends on distance, rainfall, storage and the condition of the source. Those constraints become health risks long before a patient reaches a clinic.

Water Connections designs practical systems for the terrain and the people who will use them. Depending on the site, this may mean rooftop rainwater harvesting, a ferrocement tank, a reinforced reservoir, a deep well, a solar pump, gravity-fed piping or a protected distribution point.

The work is carried out with village leaders, families and local builders. Construction is only the beginning. Gutters, lids, filters, pipes, overflow areas and water quality must remain inspectable, repairable and understood by the community.

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5,300 L
Standard ferrocement tank

A compact rainwater system adapted to homes, small groups of families and rural schools.

115 m³
Laindatang reservoir

Large reinforced storage designed for more than 200 people and a local school.

200 m
Gravity-fed extension

A recent Hudumburung connection carries stored water directly to two homes and around fifteen people.

40 m
Deep well at Lapinu

A solar-powered pump lifts groundwater to a 10,000-litre elevated storage system.

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From source to household

How a water system becomes reliable

The visible tank is only one part of the system. Reliability begins with understanding the source and continues through design, construction, protection, distribution and maintenance.

01

Assess

The team studies the source, rainfall, terrain, household demand, access and the risks around the proposed site.

02

Design

Storage volume, foundations, catchment area, pumping or gravity and distribution are adapted to local conditions.

03

Build together

Local builders and families take part so the structure, materials and repair needs are understood close to home.

04

Protect and connect

Roofs, gutters, filters, sealed storage, overflow and pipes are installed as one continuous water pathway.

05

Inspect and maintain

Leaks, cracks, contamination risks and damaged components are identified, corrected and followed over time.

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Water safety is continuous

A full tank is not automatically a safe tank

Safe access depends on the complete pathway from catchment or source to storage, pipe and household container. A weakness at any point can reintroduce contamination or interrupt supply.

What the system must protect

  • A source or roof catchment kept away from avoidable contamination
  • Gutters and first-flow components aligned and clear of debris
  • A sealed tank with a protected lid and controlled access
  • Filtration appropriate to the source and intended use
  • Clean pipes, taps and household collection containers
  • Drainage and overflow that do not create stagnant water

When corrective action is needed

  • Cracks, leaks, unstable foundations or damaged tank walls
  • Rust, open inspection holes or a lid that no longer seals
  • Broken gutters, blocked filters or unburied damaged pipes
  • Visible contamination, unusual colour, odour or persistent turbidity
  • Standing overflow water that increases mosquito or hygiene risks
  • Concerning test results or a cluster of diarrhoeal illness after use
Water infrastructure reduces exposure only when the system remains functional and the water pathway remains protected. Inspection, cleaning, repair, water testing and household hygiene are part of the intervention, not optional additions.
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Ferrocement Water Connections reservoir beside a rural home in East Sumba

A reservoir is useful only when its catchment, filtration, structure, overflow and distribution remain safe and repairable.

The system behind every tap

Engineering that can be maintained locally

A tank alone is not water access. Each project combines source assessment, structural choices, protected storage, distribution and a maintenance plan. The aim is not technical complexity. It is a system that fits the terrain, can be inspected and can keep working after the construction team leaves.

Site assessment

Rainfall, groundwater, access, soil, terrain and household demand guide the design before materials arrive.

Reinforced storage

Ferrocement tanks and larger reinforced reservoirs are sized and built for the community and site conditions.

Protected distribution

Filters, pumps, gravity-fed HDPE pipe, taps, overflow and drainage move water without losing control of safety.

Water monitoring

Field checks and the Rumah Kambera laboratory support testing for microbial, physical and chemical indicators.

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What changes in practice

Safe water changes the conditions in which illness begins

Less time collecting water

A household connection can return hours of walking, waiting and transport to families, especially women and children.

Safer daily hygiene

Water close to home makes handwashing, wound cleaning, food preparation and household cleaning more consistent.

Water where children learn

School storage supports drinking, toilets, cleaning and basic infection prevention throughout the day.

Stronger dry-season continuity

Storage, protected sources and planned distribution reduce dependence on a single distant or seasonal collection point.

Household connectionClean water reaches two homesSee how a 5,300-litre tank and 200 metres of gravity-fed pipe changed daily water access in Hudumburung.
Final reportLaindatang 115 m³ reservoirRead the technical and field report for a large rainwater system serving more than 200 people and a school.
Project areaLaindatang & HambaritaExplore the linked reservoirs, filtration, construction and village water systems developed across these communities.
Child healthUnsafe water and childhood diarrhoeaUnderstand how contaminated water, dehydration and malnutrition reinforce one another in rural families.
Live field recordField Notes from Eastern IndonesiaFollow dated updates on construction, repairs, water access, health and the realities encountered by field teams.
Field guide & glossaryWater and sanitation, explainedExplore practical terms and field guides related to water safety, storage, hygiene and public health.
Public health referenceDrinking-water and healthRead the international evidence connecting safe water, sanitation, infection prevention and health.
Water and sanitation referenceWater, sanitation and hygieneExplore the wider framework linking safe water access, hygiene, childhood health and dignity.