On World Water Day, March 22, 2026, Pertamina’s Vice President of Corporate Communications, Muhammad Baron, explained that in early 2026, Pertamina completed the construction of seven drilled wells equipped with filters and piping systems in Merauke and Jayapura. This infrastructure now serves 4,585 people who previously had limited access to clean water, including Kampung (Village) Tambat, Merauke Regency, Papua Selatan (South Papua) province.
Some head toward the small clearing near the water facility, carrying containers that have been used for years. Plastic jerry cans, buckets, even old cooking oil containers that have been cleaned and repurposed.
Not long ago, these same containers would have been filled with rainwater or drawn from shallow wells. The water was often cloudy, sometimes carrying a smell that people had learned to ignore. It was never ideal, but it was what they had.
Now, the routine looks similar, but something important has changed.
The water they collect is clear.
And it flows from a pipe.
Before the Pipes
For many residents in this part of Papua, access to clean water was never something guaranteed.
It depended on the weather.
When rain came, people collected as much as they could, storing it carefully in containers placed outside their homes. During long dry periods, those reserves would run low.
Then came the wells.
But the wells were not always reliable. In some places, the water carried a sulfur smell. In others, it looked clean but raised concerns about safety. People used it anyway.
They had to.
“You don’t think too much about it,” one resident said. “You just use what is there.”
That sentence captures something essential about life in remote areas.
You adapt.
A Problem That Feels Normal
When something has been part of daily life for years, it stops feeling like a problem.
Or at least, it becomes a problem that people live with rather than question.
In Kampung Tambat, children grew up knowing that water might not always be clean. Families learned how to manage limited supplies. Washing, cooking, and drinking all required some level of compromise.
It was not ideal.
But it was normal.
When Change Begins Quietly
The arrival of Pertamina’s clean water program did not begin with a big announcement in the village.
It began with activity.
Vehicles arriving.
People measuring land.
Conversations between workers and local leaders.
At first, it felt like many other projects that come and go.
There was curiosity, but also caution.
“We were not sure what it would become,” said a local resident.
That uncertainty lasted for a while.
Until the pipes were installed.
The First Flow
The moment water first flowed through the system was not marked by a ceremony.
There were no large banners or crowds.
Instead, there were a few people standing nearby, watching carefully.
Someone opened the tap.
Water came out.
Clear.
Steady.
There was a brief silence.
Then someone stepped forward with a container.
Others followed.
What Pertamina Built
Through its social responsibility program, PT Pertamina (Persero) developed several clean water facilities in Papua, including in Merauke and Jayapura.
The infrastructure includes bore wells, filtration systems, storage tanks, and distribution pipelines.
In total, the program has reached more than 4,500 residents in areas that previously lacked reliable access to clean water.
The numbers are important.
But they do not fully capture what it means on the ground.
A Change in Routine
For a mother of three in Kampung Tambat, the change is simple but significant.
“Before, I had to think about water all the time,” she said.
How much was left?
Whether it would be enough.
Whether it was safe.
Now, she still collects water.
But she does not worry in the same way.
“It is easier,” she said.
That word comes up often.
Easier.
Time That Returns
One of the less visible impacts of improved water access is time.
When people no longer need to search for water or manage limited supplies, they gain something back.
Time to work.
Time to rest.
Time to focus on other parts of life.
It is not something that appears in reports.
But it matters.
A Village Leader’s Perspective
The head of Kampung Tambat described the change in practical terms.
“In the past, we depended on rain and wells,” he said.
“Now we have a stable source.”
He mentioned the sulfur smell that used to be common.
The uncertainty during dry seasons.
“These problems are gone,” he added.
It was not said with excitement.
But with certainty.
Beyond One Village
Kampung Tambat is only one example.
Similar facilities have been developed in other parts of Papua, each with its own context and challenges.
In some areas, access to clean water improves conditions in schools.
In others, it supports small businesses.
In all cases, it changes daily life in ways that are often quiet.
A School Without Water
In a school near Jayapura, a teacher recalled how difficult it used to be.
“We had water sometimes,” she said.
“But not always.”
Students would bring their own water from home.
Sometimes it was enough.
Sometimes it was not.
Now, with access to clean water on site, the situation is different.
“It is better for everyone,” she said.
She did not need to explain further.
The Broader Meaning of Water
Globally, access to clean water is often discussed in terms of development goals.
Health.
Sanitation.
Economic growth.
In Papua, these connections are real.
But they are also personal.
Clean water means fewer illnesses.
It means safer cooking.
It means children growing up in better conditions.
Challenges That Remain
Despite the progress, challenges remain.
Papua’s geography is complex.
Remote villages are difficult to reach.
Infrastructure requires maintenance.
Programs require continuity.
Not every community has access yet.
And those that do will need ongoing support.
Community Responsibility
One of the key elements of the program is community involvement.
Residents are not only users.
They are also caretakers.
They are responsible for maintaining the facilities.
Ensuring they remain functional.
This approach helps extend the life of the infrastructure.
A Broader Initiative
Pertamina’s efforts in Papua are part of a wider initiative that includes other regions, including areas affected by natural disasters.
The approach is consistent.
Provide immediate access.
Build long-term systems.
Support communities.
It reflects a broader role for state-owned companies in Indonesia.
Not only as economic actors.
But as contributors to social development.
A Quiet Impact
The impact of clean water access is not always visible from a distance.
There are no dramatic changes in landscape.
No sudden transformations.
Instead, the changes are gradual.
Daily.
Consistent.
A Conversation at Dusk
In the evening, as people gather near their homes, conversations continue as usual.
About work.
About family.
About plans.
Water is no longer the main topic.
And that, in itself, is a sign of change.
Looking Ahead
Programs like this are steps, not final solutions.
They address immediate needs.
But they also highlight what still needs to be done.
Expanding access.
Maintaining systems.
Ensuring sustainability.
Conclusion
As night falls over Kampung Tambat, the water facility stands quietly in the background.
It does not draw attention.
It does not need to.
Its presence is felt in routines.
In habits.
In small moments throughout the day.
A container filled without concern.
A meal prepared without hesitation.
A child drinking water without question.
In places where clean water once depended on chance, it has become something more reliable.
Not a luxury.
But a part of life.
And sometimes, that is the kind of change that matters most.