Jayapura, September 7, 2026 — Access to reliable clean water remains a critical challenge in Yapsi District, Jayapura Regency, Papua, where both transmigrant settlements and indigenous villages continue to depend heavily on rainwater and untreated surface water. Addressing this challenge, the Clean Water Infrastructure Team (Team 13) of the ITB Patriot Expedition 2026 held a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) at the Ongan Jaya Village Hall (SP 1) on Monday, September 7, bringing together government officials, village leaders, customary authorities, educators, and community representatives to validate field findings and develop a sustainable clean-water pilot project. Team 13 is led by Nurrohman Wijaya, Ph.D., from Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB), with members Jeki Saputra, Maria Dolorosa Bhebe, Muhammad Anas Dzul Afkar Wal Asror, Shelsa Indah Berliana, and Syifa Nur Fitriani. The discussion was facilitated by Nurrohman, Ph.D. and Muhammad Anas Dzul A., focusing on water access challenges across the transmigrant settlements of SP 1–SP 6 and the indigenous villages, including Kampung Bundru, Tabbeyan, and Kwarja.

Validating Water Access Challenges

During the FGD, the team presented findings from recent household surveys, which showed that many communities continue to rely on rainwater and untreated surface water following the failure of previous water infrastructure projects. Local leaders confirmed these findings based on their experiences. Supriyanto, the Village Chief of SP 2 Bumi Sahaja, explained that previous piped-water initiatives had stalled due to budget reductions. In Kampung Bundru, meanwhile, a water tower collapsed despite the relatively clear water at its source. These experiences underscored that expanding water infrastructure alone would not be sufficient. The discussion highlighted the need to ensure that new systems are technically appropriate, financially viable, and supported by a clear mechanism for operation and maintenance.

Building a Sustainable Community-Based Management Model

A major focus of the discussion was the long-term sustainability of water infrastructure. Participants noted that several previous initiatives had become dysfunctional because maintenance arrangements and institutional responsibilities were not clearly established. A participant proposed establishing formal technician positions with clearly defined responsibilities to ensure routine maintenance and rapid responses to technical problems. Participants also discussed community-based management mechanisms. Nurrohman, Ph.D. and District Representative Ridwan Ayi proposed that water infrastructure could be managed through Village-Owned Enterprises (BUMDes). Under this model, village budget allocations could be combined with transparent community maintenance contributions to support routine operations, repairs, and system sustainability. The proposed approach aims to move beyond project-based infrastructure provision toward a locally managed system in which communities have clear responsibilities and mechanisms to maintain the facilities over the long term.

Integrating Customary Institutions and Local Context

The FGD also emphasized the importance of integrating customary institutions into infrastructure planning and implementation. Robertus Urumban, Chairman of the Oktim Customary Council, stressed that plans to utilize local water sources should be communicated to customary institutions to avoid potential conflicts and ensure respect for customary land rights. The local Ondoafi, or customary chief, also welcomed the initiative, emphasizing the urgent need for technical support to address Yapsi’s water challenges. For the ITB Patriot Team, these perspectives reinforced the importance of combining technical planning with local knowledge, customary governance, and community participation.

Agreements for the Next Phase

At the conclusion of the FGD, stakeholders reached several agreements to guide the immediate implementation of the clean-water pilot project: 1) Prioritize piped-water expansion toward critical public facilities, particularly schools and healthcare clinics, to maximize benefits within the available budget; 2) Conduct drone mapping and detailed geospatial measurements to identify efficient routes for gravity-based water distribution; 3) Involve customary authorities and local landowners in project planning and management to maintain social cohesion and respect customary land rights; and 4) Strengthen coordination among the ITB Patriot Expedition Team, Yapsi District Government, and individual village administrations throughout the project. The team planned to conduct drone mapping and detailed pipeline measurements the following day to identify the most feasible distribution routes.

The FGD marked an important step toward developing a clean-water infrastructure model that responds not only to immediate service needs but also to the institutional, technical, financial, and cultural conditions required for long-term sustainability. Through collaboration among ITB, local governments, village administrations, customary institutions, and communities, the initiative is expected to improve basic services, public health, and the agricultural livelihoods of communities across Yapsi District.