Clean water needs in Indonesia rose two- to three-fold during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to under normal conditions, according to a survey conducted by the Indonesia Water Institute (IWI).
"The increase is related to the application of health protocols during the pandemic," IWI researcher and founder Firdaus Ali said.
The research was conducted from October 15 to November 12, 2020 and involved 1,296 respondents across Indonesia.
Citing the survey's results, Ali reminded the government of the concrete challenge that needs to be addressed to meet the rising need for drinking water. The government should make efforts to meet the public's basic needs in the form of drinking water, he remarked.
According to Ali, the clean water crisis had occurred before the COVID-19 pandemic struck. When the pandemic affected the country, clean water consumption rose significantly, he observed. Hence, the government should pay attention to the fulfillment of clean water needs, he added.
"The improvement of clean water infrastructure is needed since Indonesia has not reached the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic," he emphasized.
Meanwhile, Public Works and People's Housing Minister Basuki Hadimulyono said his ministry has been trying to improve water resilience.
To meet clean water needs from households, the government has built infrastructure, including intakes, distribution networks, and water reservoirs to supply raw water, he informed.
"Looking ahead, we need to draft a comprehensive and integrated policy related to water resource management, particularly to achieve national water resilience," he said.
The government has set itself the target of increasing the capacity of raw water supply by up to 50 cubic meters per second. (INE)
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