Several Ways Indonesian Households Ensure Safe Drinking Water

Indonesian citizens employ various methods to ensure the safety of their drinking water. Boiling is one of the most common approaches.

According to the National Socioeconomic Survey (Susenas) conducted by the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) in March 2022, the majority (83.33%) of Indonesians boil their water to make it safe for consumption.

"Boiling water is a relatively easy and affordable way to make water safer to drink," the BPS stated in its report.

The BPS also explained that boiling is microbiologically effective in making water safer for consumption.

Furthermore, 26.65% of the population let their water settle. This is followed by those who filter water using cloth (6.76%) and modern filters (2.22%) such as ceramic and bio-sand filters.

Other methods include filtering water with traditional filters (ijuk, sand, etc.), adding clarifying agents (alum, chlorine, or disinfectants), and solar disinfection, as shown in the graph.

The 2022 BPS Susenas data also indicates that approximately 90% of primary drinking water sources in Indonesia meet physical requirements: clear, colorless, tasteless, non-foaming, and odorless.

"Although the physical condition of drinking water shows good physical characteristics, it does not necessarily mean that the water is free from contamination by hazardous elements," said the BPS.

(See also: Only 65% of Households in Papua Had Access to Safe Drinking Water Sources in 2022)