Jakarta's Dense Settlements Struggle with Water Access, Burdening Women

Residents in Jakarta's dense urban settlements continue to struggle with access to clean water. Poor water quality and unreliable supply are imposing multiple burdens, particularly on women. Titin Sumiyati, a resident of Pesanggrahan Timur, Pademangan Timur Village, North Jakarta, stated that water from her tap only trickles out slowly, and she has to share it with neighbors. "The water is very yellow, and when there's a water outage, it's not for a day or two, but for two weeks," she said on Monday (24/8/26). Her house is one of 1,500 families benefiting from the master meter program, which provides communal piped water connections through a single master meter to meet the clean water needs of low-income communities in dense settlements. However, this program has not resolved the clean water problem to this day. "The water only drips, but the meter keeps running, so the family pays a lot," she said. According to Titin, in one month, water can be out 2-3 times a week. When it flows, the water is sometimes murky. Yet, water is a primary necessity at home, for washing, bathing, and even worship. With no other choice, when the water stops flowing, Titin has to buy water from vendors. The price for one jerigen (about 20 liters) of water is around Rp6,000. If she needs eight jerigen a day, it costs Rp48,000. For her, this price is considered expensive and drains her pocket. "We already pay the master meter, and we still buy water. It ends up being more wasteful," she added. The issue of water access in Jakarta's dense settlements is not merely an infrastructure deficit but has profound implications for the daily lives of residents, especially women. The time and effort spent securing water can also lead to lost educational and income opportunities.