You take a sip of water to quench your thirst, but what if every drop carries a risk?
According to a recent report, this is the harsh reality for approximately 4.4 billion people in low and middle-income countries who lack access to safe drinking water.
Clean water is more than just a necessity, it is a fundamental human right. Yet, for millions, access to safe drinking water, proper sanitation, and hygiene remains a daily struggle. This is where WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) comes in. It is a powerful force for change, shaping healthier communities, strengthening economies, and building resilience against climate change.
Climate change is making this challenge an even greater threat. Droughts dwindle freshwater supplies, rising temperatures accelerate evaporation, and floods contaminate water sources, spreading disease. Poor sanitation in flood-prone areas turns communities into breeding grounds for infections, while the absence of proper handwashing facilities amplifies the spread of illness. Without clean water and sanitation, children's growth is stunted, immune systems are weakened, and entire communities suffer as a result.
WASH is about more than just survival, it’s about progress. Safe water sustains families, sanitation ensures dignity, and hygiene safeguards public health. They form the foundation of stronger, more resilient societies.
Aligned with global sustainability efforts, WASH plays a vital role in advancing key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by the United Nations. Specifically, it contributes to SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) by promoting sustainable water management practices and ensuring universal access to sanitation. It also supports SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) by preventing waterborne diseases, thereby improving public health. Additionally, WASH is integral to SDG 13 (Climate Action), as it helps communities adapt to climate-related water challenges, fostering resilience and sustainable development.
In an effort to support the Indonesian government and the world to address the problem of clean water and sanitation availability in the community, as well as action in mitigating climate change, APP Group (APP) aims to integrate WASH into climate strategies to create more sustainable and resilient communities for the future.
A Commitment to Change
APP understands the urgency of this issue and has been working closely with partners and local communities to bring clean water and sanitation to those in need. From the villages of Java to the coasts of Sumatra, APP aims to transform lives, one drop at a time.
In the Singkalan village in Sidoarjo, APP’s Tjiwi Kimia mill has collaborated with the Habitat for Humanity Indonesia (HfHI) Foundation since 2020. Once, only 30 homes had access to clean water. Today, thanks to a fruitful collaboration with Habitat for Humanity Indonesia, over 200 households now enjoy safe, running water. Beyond infrastructure, the project also empowered residents to manage their own water systems, ensuring sustainability for future generations instead of relying on privately owned wells with inadequate water quality. Religious spaces have also been uplifted as APP’s clean water program provides free water to seven small mosques and two larger ones, ensuring congregations can maintain proper hygiene before prayers.
In Jadimulya, where groundwater is acidic and undrinkable, families once relied on expensive bottled water from Palembang. To improve this, APP constructed 25 clean water treatment units that now provide affordable drinking water. What used to cost the villagers IDR 15,000 per gallon is now available for just IDR 7,000, easing financial burdens while securing access to safe water.
APP’s Pindo Deli Karawang mill also played a pivotal role in Kutamekar village’s achievement of an open defecation-free status by spearheading a community-based sanitation project in partnership with the Speak Indonesia Foundation to promote healthy and hygienic lifestyles. Aside from installing toilets and septic tanks, APP simultaneously raised awareness about the importance of having proper sanitation facilities.
The impact of WASH extends far beyond homes, it shapes the next generation. Since 2022, APP has supported 10 schools with handwashing facilities, ensuring that children grow up with essential hygiene habits.
School toilets have been built and renovated, while water wells provide a consistent supply of clean water, reinforcing a culture of health and well-being.
Looking Ahead
The journey is far from over. In Demak, a new Community-Led Total Sanitation initiative is taking shape. In Kramat Village, APP is expanding its clean water program, targeting 150 more households.
APP believes that WASH is not just providing water. WASH is unlocking potential and creating a ripple effect of positive change that will be felt for generations to come. These efforts build on a simple yet powerful belief, access to clean water is not a privilege, it is a right.
Ensuring universal access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene can save lives, boost economies, and promote sustainability. To successfully achieve this on a larger scale for the benefit of all, governments, corporations, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) must work hand-in-hand to implement climate-resilient WASH solutions with long-term benefits. WASH is not just a basic necessity – it is essential for global health, development, and equality.