Nusa Penida, an island in Bali, is experiencing a clean water shortage. The island is one of the most popular destinations for tourists in the region and is situated just off Bali’s southern coast. Local officials have promised to upgrade Nusa Penida’s infrastructure, including water management, but the authorities are requesting assistance from the provincial government.
According to a local report, a clean water tank in Nusa Penida costs IDR 100,000 and lasts an average family for three days. The amount is more than IDR 1 million for a month. The price would be significantly more expensive for businesses to run sustainably with that cost alone.
I Ketut Juliarta, a local legislator from Nusa Penida, told the press, “Until now, there are still many residential areas that have not had clean water in Nusa Penida.”
As Juliarta continued, “The piping is all there, but there is no water.; How expensive is the money that must be spent by the community just to provide clean water, which is a necessity to support life; then what is our role as policy makers; the water problem has not yet been solved.”
In response to Juliarta’s statements, the deputy governor of Bali, Cok Ace, has stated that he has spoken with German investors who may have access to technology that may transform sea water into potable water.
Cok Ace has stated that Nusa Penida would be used as an example if this technology is effective. Given that this issue—the water crisis in Nusa Penida—frequently occurs, particularly during the dry season, the Bali government is searching for any solution that would work and could be implemented as soon as possible.
The question of upgrading the infrastructure in Nusa Penida is currently very heated and significant for the region. The Regent of Klungkung, I Nyoman Suwirta, promised in a speech late last month to ensure that investments in the island’s road and water management infrastructure are successful.
Interested in this topic? Check out our other articles from Social Expat: