Water sources, consumption, and water-related sanitation on Pari Island, Indonesia: a mixed-focus group discussion and survey study

Abstract

Pari Island has 1,441 inhabitants who are facing major environmental challenges related to water consumption and availability. These challenges may impact water quality and availability in the future. Previous research examining water usage and sanitation behavior on Pari Island remains limited. Since domestic activities dominate in Pari Island, this study evaluated water sources for domestic usage, estimated water consumption, and evaluated individual water usage and sanitation behavior, as well as community behavior and awareness. This study was based on a field survey conducted in 2021, using a questionnaire involving 317 heads of households, and had focus group discussions. The results revealed that reverse osmosis (RO) water and branded bottled water were the dominant water sources for drinking and food preparation, and RO water had become an important alternative water source for its affordable price. An individual's well water was mostly used for bathing and toilets. Annual water consumption on Pari Island for drinking, food preparation, and water-related sanitation is 24,930.74–29,401.44 m3/year, which still fell within the estimated water capacity of 290,000.48 m3/year, yet problems related to sanitation need special attention with respect to the increasing population. The awareness of the Pari Island community on technological interventions should be an advantage to maintain water sustainability.