PROJECT BACKGROUND

Context

Situated near Magelang City in Central Java, Dusun Butuh is perched on a steep hillside and lies adjacent to the Borobudur Compound, a site of paramount tourism importance in Indonesia. The village is enveloped by the natural splendor of the Merapi Merbabu Menoreh Biosphere Reserves. In recent years, Dusun Butuh has been grappling with escalating water scarcity issues, a situation aggravated by climate change, deforestation, and unsustainable practices in water management. The dwindling availability and deteriorating quality of water present considerable risks to the health, well-being, and economic stability of the village inhabitants. Compounded by erratic rainfall and subpar water storage and distribution systems, the community frequently faces water shortages, especially during the dry season.

Project Location

Main Beneficiary

Kemujan Water Group’s program is designed with a focus on the Musholla (or Islamic Prayer Room in English), a central public facility utilized by the entire Dusun community. The implementation phase will involve the improvement and filtration of water tanks to ensure a clean water supply. The prioritization for water usage will be as follows:

• Worshippers and Musholla-related activities requiring water
• Community activities in the vicinity of the Musholla
• Culinary purposes, including water for food preparation
• Essential household cleaning tasks that require minimal water usage

Problem Statement

There is an increasing water scarcity affecting the village, which is exacerbated by climate change, deforestation, and unsustainable water management practices. This has led to a decline in both the availability and quality of water, threatening the well-being and livelihoods of the residents, especially during the dry season when water shortages become more acute.

PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION

Objectives

The program’s commitment to the community of Dusun Butuh is evident in its dedication to ensuring an adequate water supply for the dry season and in its attentive response to the villagers’ needs throughout the project’s execution.

Project Approach and Methods

The project adopted a participatory planning approach, actively involving the community in its development. While the initial goal was to provide a water reserve tank to mitigate the effects of water scarcity during the prolonged dry season, the process encountered unexpected complexities. Community feedback revealed the existence of an existing water tank within the Musholla’s public facility, prompting a shift in strategy to repair the Musholla’s leaking tank, which had been out of service for several months.

Key figures engaged in the project included Mr. Said, the Head Hamlet; Mr. Darto, the Musholla landowner; Mr. Kabul, a construction expert and Mr. Darto’s son; and Mr. Sumarno, the Musholla caretaker, all of whom played pivotal roles in steering the project towards a solution that aligned with the community’s existing resources and needs.

Project Results and Outcomes

The project successfully renovated the Musholla’s previously damaged water tank, restoring its capacity to store up to 60,000 liters (about 15850.32 gal) of water. Additionally, a natural water filtration system was constructed adjacent to the Musholla, utilizing sustainable materials readily available within the village, thereby enhancing the community’s water management infrastructure.

PROJECT PARTNERS

Musholla Welfare Council in Dusun Butuh, Magelang City, Central Java, Indonesia

ABOUT KEMUJAN WATER GROUP

In the realm of academic buzz and shared visions, Kemujan Water Group stands out with its strong roots. Brought close to each other since their early university days and bonded over a mutual dedication to environmental solutions, this group of determined students from Gadjah Mada University found their calling on an unexpected platform: the Instagram page of the Asia Water Challenge.

Driven by a commitment to sustainability, Kemujan Water Group developed a proposal for a pioneering water storage tank equipped with a filtration system, utilizing locally sourced, sustainable materials. This project was not just about winning a competition but about providing a viable solution to water scarcity in their chosen site, Dusun Butuh. The community’s enthusiastic response to their proposal has further fueled their resolve to see their ideas come to fruition.