Vol. 10 Droplets of Happiness
The role and work of the water committee in a small community’s daily life
Some 70 kilometers east of Indonesia’s capital of Jakarta in the Purwakarta Regency lies the small village of Cikadu, surrounded by nature and home to about 560 people living in 180 households. About 10 years ago, a Yamaha Clean Water Supply System—a small water purification system—was installed here, and ever since, it has been producing drinkable water that the locals have named sarasa. It not only quenches the thirst of the villagers but has also created jobs by being offered for sale in the surrounding area.
Installing a Yamaha Clean Water Supply System first requires the community to establish a water committee to serve as a foundation for lasting and sustainable operation. The know-how for self-sufficient operation then takes root in the community and gradually shared among local residents. “This is ours,” says Cikadu’s water committee chairman Asep Sukma. “So we have a responsibility to keep the system running and always well taken care of. Because for us, this assistance we received from Japan has been so incredibly helpful.”
The sky-blue purification system continues to be cherished by everyone in Cikadu, much like what sarasa means—“All of us with one mind.” Each tiny drop of water purified through slow-sand filtration becomes both a source of sustenance and smiles.
