Clean, close water for health and crops in Bobonaro, Timor-Leste

Above: Vasco, Sidalia (14) and their neighbour Joana (5) next to the water access point, which is now protected from animals by fencing. Photo: Domingos de Araujo / World Vision

Clean water is essential for healthy communities. In Bobonaro, Timor-Leste, Australian Humanitarian Partnership NGO World Vision has supported 10 communities across four villages to protect their water springs from contamination, and to improve access, through the Disaster READY program.

In collaboration with municipal disaster management committees, which involve the Department for Civil Protection, water and sanitation services, municipal health services, education facilities and village councils, World Vision facilitated community meetings to assess local vulnerability and capacity through Disaster READY. Communities were then supported to develop action plans on local water issues.

This process identified a number of problems, including water scarcity, damage to crops from inundation, and landslides. But communities determined that the protection of water sources was their priority for action.

“My family and I would use this water source for cooking, drinking, showering and other needs,” said 67-year-old Vasco. “The water was dirty, but we would still use it because we only have one water source in this village.”

In the dry season, the lack of available water was an added challenge.

“My family and I consumed dirty water because we had no option, this also had an impact on my farm as it was difficult to grow crops consistently due to the lack of water,” Vasco said.

Children often fell ill with diarrhoea and other illnesses from drinking contaminated water, he added.

Vasco’s wife, Carminda, 48, said that accessing water took up a large part of her day. “Before, I had to go a far distance to fetch water, taking two hours to reach the spring,” Carminda said.

“Sometimes I would need to go two times a day because regularly the spring would be empty by the time I reached it.”

Above: Sidalia (14) fetches water at the new water access point. Photo: Domingos de Araujo / World Vision

Vasco’s community decided to construct barriers to keep animals away from water sources, and to construct a closer water access point. World Vision provided materials such as mesh wire, sand, cement and transport assistance, along with training, while local communities contributed stone, sand, local timber and labour.

“Now, we can consume clean and healthy water, as it is protected from animals and trash,” said Vasco.

Sidalia, 14, Vasco’s daughter, said she had more water to use, and spent less time getting it.  

“My mum and I are not going far anymore to fetch water as it is close to our house now. I can use as much water as I need,” Sidalia said.

“As the COVID-19 virus is spreading, my parents also always teach me to wash my hands frequently to prevent me from the virus or any diseases.”

On top of supporting the action plans for water protection, World Vision provided training for village council members and communities on gender equity and social inclusion, women’s leadership, and disaster risk management. Communities were also provided with seed containers and handwashing items, such as buckets, tippy taps, hand soap, nail clippers and towels.

World Vision has now supported protection of five water springs in Bobonaro, benefitting 213 households. This support ensures that communities have more reliable access to clean water, increasing their resilience. Through coordination with the Government of Timor-Leste’s National Program for Village Development, which supports small-scale infrastructure, local authorities and communities will be able to maintain or expand their existing structures to keep their water sources clean.