In Tambat Village, a remote spot in Merauke Regency, Papua Selatan (South Papua), water was once a constant battle. For years, families rose before dawn, searching for the precious, but limited, clean water. Young children, both girls and boys, trudged long distances, containers balanced on their shoulders. Pregnant mothers carefully measured out small portions for drinking and cooking. Elders recalled times when even the animals drank from stagnant pools, aware of the risks but with no other option.
This difficult situation shifted on January 26, 2026. A deep bore well and the necessary infrastructure were opened, thanks to a partnership between PT Pertamina Patra Niaga Papua, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), and SERUNI KMP, a community-oriented group. The facility now provides clean water to almost 700 villagers, fundamentally changing their daily lives.
The days of struggling to find water are long gone; now, it’s as easy as turning on a faucet to access safe, clean water.
This change represents more than just infrastructure. It highlights the importance of dignity, resilience, and the impact of teamwork, between businesses, government, and communities in creating lasting, positive change.
The Water Challenges in Tambat
Tambat Village faces a distinct climate. The dry season brings unpredictable rainfall, and shallow water sources often dry up or become tainted with dust and animal waste. When the rains come, water pools in low areas, but it’s frequently contaminated with surface runoff and animal waste, making it undrinkable.
For years, the people of Tambat depended on seasonal springs, shallow wells, and collecting rainwater in buckets.
Contamination was a persistent problem, compelling residents to be frugal with their scarce water. They had to carefully divide it for cooking and washing while simultaneously consuming less water that could be contaminated. Local clinics were inundated with cases of waterborne diseases, with children suffering the most.
The lack of a dependable source of clean water also impeded local schools from enhancing sanitation. Without consistent access, students struggled to practice good hygiene throughout the school day. This, in turn, resulted in increased absences and health issues.
These difficulties were more than just logistical. They were fundamentally linked to the community’s overall well-being and its future.
Clean water was more than just a basic need; it was a powerful symbol of inequality, something the villagers faced every day, both physically and in their homes.
The Partnership That Made Water Flow
In response to this pressing need, PT Pertamina Patra Niaga Papua, working with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, joined forces with SERUNI KMP to develop a sustainable clean water solution. The collaboration brought together technical expertise, institutional support, and community engagement.
Pertamina, Indonesia’s state-owned energy company with a long history in eastern Indonesia, provided project leadership and funding through its corporate social responsibility framework. This commitment aligns with the company’s expanding focus on community welfare and rural development in regions where its operations have significant social impact.
The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources supported regulatory alignment and oversight, helping ensure that the project met national water infrastructure standards and could be replicated in other rural communities.
SERUNI KMP, known for its grassroots engagement and community programs, facilitated local consultations and helped ensure that residents’ voices shaped the implementation process. Through the active participation of village leaders and families in both the planning and implementation phases, the project successfully cultivated a crucial sense of local ownership, a key factor in ensuring enduring sustainability.
These collaborative efforts culminated in the drilling of a deep borehole within Tambat Village, thereby accessing a dependable groundwater aquifer. Furthermore, pumping stations and distribution points were established, facilitating the direct delivery of clean water to the homes of families. The project also incorporated training programs for local technicians, concentrating on system maintenance and water quality assessment, thus cultivating local expertise for ongoing upkeep and future expansion.
Life After Water: Daily Impacts on Health and Dignity
The effects of clean water in Tambat are readily apparent and immediate. Residents are witnessing a reduction in the incidence of diarrhea and other waterborne illnesses. Mothers are no longer compelled to rise before dawn to procure water.
Students come to school eager to learn, not already worn out from chores at home.
One mother shared how her children now bathe regularly and drink water without worrying about getting sick. A villager explained how the time he used to spend fetching water is now devoted to a small garden, which offers better nutrition and a bit of extra income.
Healthcare workers at the nearby clinic noticed a significant drop in waterborne diseases in the weeks after the system was put in place. They pointed out that the benefits went beyond simply reducing illnesses; it also meant less suffering, which in turn supports children’s development and helps adults be more productive.
For many in the village, having clean water was a game-changer. It affected everything, from daily tasks at home to the local school and the economy.
Education and Opportunity: Water’s Ripple Effects
Clean water is fundamental to education. In Tambat Village, the new water supply has already made a difference, leading to better school attendance and healthier habits.
Teachers noticed fewer students missing school because they were sick. Having water available at school has also raised basic hygiene standards for everyone.
These gains go beyond just health. They create a better learning environment, allowing children to concentrate on their lessons without the constant worry of thirst or exhaustion. This is especially important when children have to fetch water before they can even think about doing their homework.
Parents, it appears, are optimistic that their children will complete their education and return to the community, contributing to its professional landscape. Many view the new water facility as a crucial initial step toward a more prosperous economic and social environment.
Women, Children, and Water Equity
The water crisis in Tambat disproportionately affected women and girls. In numerous households, women were responsible for securing water for all needs, often prioritizing the well-being of their children and the upkeep of the home over their own. The lengthy trek to distant water sources also imposed physical burdens and exposed them to potential hazards.
Now, with a dependable water supply conveniently located, women in Tambat are discovering more time for employment, community engagement, and caregiving, no longer encumbered by the daily task of hauling water.
Girls, who once missed school to fetch water, are now attending classes more regularly.
This shift mirrors a wider movement toward gender equality within the community. Improved water access has liberated women and girls, allowing them to focus on education, launch businesses, and assume leadership positions, thereby reshaping the conventional roles that previously constrained their prospects.
Community Engagement and Sustained Impact
A key element of the Tambat clean water project is community engagement.
From the outset, village leaders and residents participated in conversations about borehole placement, distribution points, and maintenance responsibilities. SERUNI KMP played a crucial role in facilitating these discussions, ensuring the community’s needs were paramount in every decision.
This participatory approach promotes sustainability by instilling a collective sense of accountability for the system’s upkeep. Villagers were instructed in standard maintenance protocols, and community groups were formed to oversee water usage and evaluate operational performance.
Moreover, this collaborative framework diminishes the likelihood of neglect or system breakdown, a vulnerability often present in infrastructure initiatives that lack local engagement. By integrating social responsibility with community collaboration, the project’s chances of long-term success are substantially improved.
Economic and Social Progress Beyond Water
While the primary focus was on delivering clean water, the project’s benefits extend to encompass economic and social advancement. With a decrease in health-related issues, villagers gain greater opportunities to participate in employment, agricultural endeavors, and entrepreneurial activities.
Access to clean water has, consequently, facilitated local agricultural practices and livestock management, thereby mitigating the detrimental impacts of pollution and illness.
Certain households have initiated small-scale market enterprises focused on the sale of fresh produce, while others are utilizing enhanced water access to increase agricultural output. Although these economic activities are modest in scale, they foster a sense of collective advancement, thus bolstering both self-esteem and aspiration.
Moreover, regional authorities have recognized these developments. Local government officials have traveled to Tambat to assess the project’s status and contemplate analogous collaborative endeavors in adjacent communities. In a region where the provision of essential services has historically been inadequate, these concrete improvements provide a replicable model for rural development partnerships.
Institutional Lessons and Broader Implications
The Tambat clean water initiative highlights a model of collaboration that national development planners may find instructive. It demonstrates how corporate social responsibility, government support, and community engagement can work together to address fundamental needs.
For energy sector companies like PT Pertamina Patra Niaga Papua, such projects reflect a broadening of corporate purpose. Beyond delivering energy products, the company now plays a role in advancing human well-being and rural infrastructure.
For government ministries, the partnership underscores the importance of aligning public policy goals with private sector capabilities. The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources’ involvement in regulatory support and standard setting provided legitimacy and technical alignment, ensuring that the project met national development priorities.
For communities, the initiative shows that even remote villages can benefit from well-designed infrastructure when local voices shape implementation.
Environmental and Long-Term Sustainability Considerations
The project’s design also incorporated principles of environmental sustainability. Deep groundwater sources were chosen to ensure a consistent supply while minimizing disruption to surface ecosystems. The borewell’s construction was undertaken following a thorough geological evaluation to prevent over-extraction and safeguard natural water tables.
In Papua, a region characterized by fragile ecosystems and globally recognized biodiversity, development initiatives necessitate a balance with environmental stewardship. The Tambat project serves as a model, illustrating that infrastructure can be responsibly implemented when environmental and social considerations are integrated into both the design and oversight processes.
Furthermore, local water committees currently monitor usage patterns and seasonal fluctuations, thereby contributing to the maintenance of sustainable extraction rates.
These initial steps suggest a future where we can balance our water needs with environmental stewardship.
Conclusion
The clean water initiative in Tambat Village represents more than just a tangible upgrade. It’s a wellspring of health, opportunity, optimism, and self-respect. It has reshaped the very fabric of daily life, work, and aspirations.
What was once a constant battle is now a simple task. Children play and giggle as they fill their containers.
Women no longer struggle with heavy water jerrycans; baskets have taken their place. Farmers now approach their fields with a renewed sense of purpose. Health workers are observing a decline in sickness. Teachers are witnessing a spark in their students.
This transformation, a result of collaboration between PT Pertamina Patra Niaga Papua, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, and SERUNI KMP, has secured a vital resource and improved lives. It demonstrates that community-focused infrastructure can drive enduring social progress in isolated regions.
As Indonesia strives for equitable development, Tambat Village’s experience provides a vital insight: when people gain access to clean water with a simple tap, their perspective shifts, and their future becomes more attainable.