Villagers Fetch Water from a Kilometre Away

Kupang Post, 18/7/10

Three villages (Tou, Tou Timur and Kota Baru) in Kota Baru Kecamatan, Ende Kabupaten (on Flores) have to drink water from a stream because piped drinking water is not available in their area. The camat says this has always been the situation.  There have been efforts to supply piped water (including at one time installation of pipes), but no water has yet reached homes in the three villages.  Some people have access to wells, but most have to transport water from a stream about a kilometer away, particularly during the dry season.  He told KP that, although the water did not meet health standards, the villagers had no alternative but to use it.