In Indonesia, water safety is a major public health concern; seven out of ten Indonesian households consume drinking water contaminated with E.coli. Therefore, two of the most important interventions to improve drinking water quality are implementing water safety plans (WSPs) and strengthening capacity for water quality surveillance.
In 2017, WHO Indonesia, in collaboration with the Ministry of National Development and Planning (Bappenas), the Ministry of Public Works and Housing (MoPWH), and the Ministry of Health (MoH), audited WSP implementation of two selected drinking water providers (Perumdam Kota Malang and Perumdam Kota Banjarmasin). Key recommendations following this audit were to enhance the knowledge of drinking water providers on systematic risk-based methods to improve water quality and develop their skills and capacity to implement WSPs. Since then, WHO has advocated for a refocused approach to water safety and quality instead of quantity, affordability, and continuity, and in 2019 the Government revised the national guidelines for WSPs to focus on water quality.
Caption : Water operators conducted a regular monitoring in the catchment area during the water safety planning post facilitation assessment. Photo Credit: Indah Deviyanti/WHO Indonesia
WSPs are based on a comprehensive risk-based management approach that assesses the water supply from source to consumption with the aim to identify and address risks to the safety and acceptability of water throughout the supply. This method emphasizes preventing and controlling risks where they are likely to arise, instead of addressing contamination after it has occurred and attempting to trace the problem back to its source following the results of testing.
In 2021, a key milestone was reached. The national road map of WSP or Peta jalan perluasan penerapan rencana pengamanan air minum 2021-2025 was issued by Bappenas. The road map includes implementation in 190 districts and municipalities by 2024.
Caption : Sixteen participants participated in the WSP Master of Training (MOT) training programme conducted by the Ministry of Public Works and Housing with support from WHO and IUWASH Plus. The MoT training programme covers all components of water safety plan implementation from catchment to consumer, based on risk assessment and management approaches. Photo Credit: Indah Deviyanti/ WHO Indonesia
To support the implementation of the roadmap, this year, WHO, in collaboration with MoPWH, conducted a 5-day introductory training on WSPs for 127 people from 47 drinking water providers (Perumdam). Five of these Perumdam were also selected as pilot sites for intensive technical support for WSP implementation. These sites are Perumdam Kota Depok, Perumdam Kota Cirebon, Perumdam Kabupaten Indramayu, Perumdam Kabupaten Sukabumi, and Perumdam Kabupaten Tangerang.
Caption: National Roadmap of WSP 2021-2025
WHO worked with LPPM Itenas, and the respective Perumdam Directors and staff to develop and implement WSPs, following an initial situation assessment to establish a baseline understanding of the water treatment system and prior operational structure.
Post-implementation assessments were conducted after five months of interventions to measure progress. The results of the post-implementation assessments showed improvement in the chlorination process and operational monitoring.
During the intervention, WHO emphasized that strong commitment and active high-level leadership is the key to sustainable implementation of WSPs, and that staff and stakeholders need to be involved in the process of developing plans to ensure success.
Caption : A water engineer from Perumdam Kota Depok takes water samples to test water quality parameters (pH, total dissolved solids, temperature and E.coli). Photo Credit: Indah Deviyanti/WHO Indonesia
The success of WSP implementation requires a trained and skilled water provider workforce. This year, in collaboration with the MoPWH, MoH, Bappenas and The USAID Indonesia Urban Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (IUWASH Plus), WHO provided technical assistance to produce the first batch of master trainers on WSPs in Indonesia. The training was held from 4 to 13 October 2021 in Bandung City-West Java. Sixteen representatives from the MoPWH, the MoH and Bappenas, and the Perumdam, Drinking Water Association (Perpamsi) actively participated the training sessions. The MoT training programme purpose was to:
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Create a pool of master trainers who will conduct cascade trainings at provincial levels through training of trainer programmes
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Refresh the knowledge of managers, operators of urban water suppliers and key government officials on the principles and practices of water safety planning, implementation, and operation
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Introduce WSPs as a risk-based and multibarrier approach to urban water quality management in a more sustainable way
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Enable participants to plan for scaled-up implementation of WSPs in urban supplies of Indonesia
Caption: The MoT participants discussed about the operational processes in drinking water systems in the control room of Perumdam Tirta Raharja, Bandung District. Photo Credit: Indah Deviyanti/WHO Indonesia
This 10-day MoT developed the knowledge and skills of the participants through practical field visits and a teaching model which enabled the new trainers to present technical information confidently and effectively, lead class activities that reinforced learning, and ultimately deliver training at the provincial level, independently.
Mr Asoka Jayaratne, one of the international trainer in the MOT activity, captured the essence of the programme: “A WSP is not more work, it is the work. A good WSP, even though it might be hard to set up, should make the job easier in the long run.”
Improving access to safe drinking water in Indonesia programme has been made possible with the generous support of the Australian government.
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