Water Supply in Satar Lahing: A Challenge for the Village Community

Living in Satar Lahing

Around two thousand men and women live in the village of Satar Lahing (Kecamatan Rana Mese, Kabupaten Manggarai Timur, NTT). Many of the population there work in agriculture, growing cereals and nuts such as rice (unhusked rice), maize, candlenuts and cashew nuts. Agriculture is their only source of economic income. The average income of the inhabitants per month is around 500,000-1,500,000 Indonesian Ruphia, equivalent to around 30-89 US dollars. The World Bank defines such an income as below the poverty line. (World Bank, 2024). The people here often live in extended subsistence, i.e., nourishing themselves with their home-grown grain and vegetables; they sell the overproduction to small traditional markets, and thus, their income is earned (Ilbery, 2014). However, in this small village, the problem of water scarcity is significant and it is crucial for us, as policy makers, NGOs, and researchers, to address this issue.

Climate change and drought

Indonesia is currently grappling with the increasing frequency and intensity of natural disasters, a situation that demands immediate attention. The country is affected by geophysical, hydrological, and meteorological risks, and is facing growing climatic challenges. One of the most serious developments in recent years is the extension of the drought season, which significantly impacts water supply and agricultural production (World Bank, 2021; BMKG, 2023). The Indonesian Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has recorded significant shifts in the rainy seasons in several provinces, with dry spells becoming more prolonged and intense (BMKG, 2023). These climatic changes are exacerbating existing risks and posing new challenges. It is crucial to focus on disaster risk management and climate adaptation, especially in rural and water-scarce regions, to mitigate these challenges (UNICEF Indonesia, 2022).

Missing infrastructure

The lack of access to a clean and sufficiently accessible water source is a key topic of conversation among the villagers in Satar Lahing. During the rainy season, they collect rainwater using storage tanks, which they use for everyday needs such as cooking and washing dishes. To shower and wash clothes, they go to the nearest river. The village also has two water storage tanks built in the 1980s and 2010. These reservoirs are connected to a small river via a pipe system, which is supplemented by two small reservoirs. However, the pipe system is now damaged, significantly impacting the villagers’ daily lives. The storage tanks can only be filled when the river’s water level is very high during the rainy season. In the dry season, the river carries little or no water – rendering the water reservoirs and the entire associated infrastructure unusable. A sustainable water supply solution does not yet exist. The village community is, therefore, utterly dependent on the Wae Musur River during the dry season.

Wae Musur and the burden of woman and children

The Wae Musur, located one kilometre outside the residential area of Satar Lahing, stands as the sole water source during the dry months. Residents with vehicles, especially motorcycles, can transport 10 to 12 canisters of 5 litres each per trip. Those without transportation must journey on foot, carrying only 4 to 6 canisters. The responsibility for collecting water daily almost always falls to women and girls. Despite the daunting task of walking for hours in the heat, over rough terrain, and carrying heavy loads, they demonstrate remarkable resilience. This physical burden is one thing – the other is what it prevents: Girls cannot go to school, and women have no time for income-generating activities, let alone further education or active participation in shaping their community. This reality leads to a double vulnerability: firstly, women in these remote areas are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change – such as increasing drought and resource conflicts. Secondly, many are economically dependent on their husbands’ income, primarily from agriculture, which severely limits their ability to secure their livelihoods.

A solution is needed

The situation in Satar Lahing is a compelling example of how water scarcity, poverty, climate change and social inequality are deeply intertwined. In a village where the economy is heavily reliant on agriculture, access to water is not just a matter of hygiene and health but a fundamental requirement for food security, economic stability and social inclusion. The lengthening dry seasons, a direct result of climate change, significantly worsen the existing water supply problems and pose a unique challenge to women and girls. They are the primary water collectors, a task that impacts their physical health and deprives them of education, income and social engagement. This situation creates a double vulnerability that extends far beyond the water issue, highlighting the urgent need for action.

Villages like Satar Lahing need a sustainable, climate-resilient, socially equitable solution to improve their water supply. With our immediate action, we can ensure a better life for the people of Satar Lahing. Real action now means not only technical measures, such as rebuilding the water infrastructure or developing alternative water systems, but also structural approaches to strengthen the role of women, diversify sources of income and adapt to climate change. We must take a holistic and inclusive approach to ensure that the people of Satar Lahing, especially the women and children, can lead a life of dignity and security and fair opportunities for the future. These solutions offer hope for a brighter future in Satar Lahing.

Sources

• World Bank. (n.d.). Prosperity Data360. Retrieved April 21, 2025, from https://data360.worldbank.org/en/prosperity​
• Ilbery, B. (2014). subsistence farming. In: B. Ilbery, ed., A Dictionary of Human Geography. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Available at: https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/acref/9780199683581.001.0001/acref-9780199683581-e-2290 [Accessed 21 Apr. 2025].
• (2023). Prakiraan Musim Kemarau 2023. Badan Meteorologi, Klimatologi, dan Geofisika. https://www.bmkg.go.id
• UNICEF Indonesia. (2022). Water Security for Children in Indonesia. https://www.unicef.org/indonesia/reports/water-security
• World Bank. (2021). Indonesia Climate Risk Country Profile. https://climateknowledgeportal.worldbank.org