KSB in Indonesia: Clean water through innovation and partnership

 

When residents of the Indonesian village of Tumpangkrasak drew water from their wells, they never knew quite what they might find and bring into their kitchens or bathrooms. The water was often yellowish to brownish, cloudy, and had a metallic smell. “Many shallow wells have experienced declining water quality due to their proximity to household septic tanks,” explains Kudus Regent Sam’ani Intakoris. The water quality also fluctuated, reaching its lowest point during the dry season, when less water was available.

This was the situation when KSB Indonesia stepped in with a project designed to improve the local water supply. Together with Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB), KSB created a new drinking water supply system powered by renewable energy that produces clean, safe, and reliable water. The project shows how KSB continues to strengthen its commitment to sustainable development through initiatives that combine technology, collaboration, and corporate responsibility.

Tumpangkrasak lies on the northern side of the Indonesian island of Java, at the foot of Gunung Muria, a forested extinct volcano. Although officially classified as a village, it feels more like a suburb of the nearby city of Kudus: narrow streets, low houses close together, walls and gates, small front gardens, and scooters parked outside homes. Above the lanes, cables hang like lines drawn across the sky. 6,716 people live here on 1.26 square kilometres – a population density more comparable to metropolitan areas such as London than to rural regions.

The high population density, combined with largely rural infrastructure, created a problem: many households relied on water from shallow wells and boreholes. At the same time, many families disposed of their wastewater via septic tanks. When water extraction and wastewater disposal are located close together, the risk of contaminants entering the groundwater increases.

Laboratory findings showed just how serious the situation was. In one well-testing study, the total number of aerobic microorganisms was so high that it could hardly be quantified meaningfully. The test returned positive results for Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella sp., and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Using data from the Ministry of Villages and Development of Disadvantaged Regions, ITB, and KSB Indonesia as a CSR partner, Tumpangkrasak was selected as the site for the development project, with ITB and KSB Indonesia contributing the appropriate technology and implementation expertise.

Together, ITB and KSB Indonesia created a water supply system that was inaugurated in December 2025. The system draws water from greater depths to reach a more stable and better-protected aquifer. To achieve this, the well was drilled to around 80 metres.  A CORA-1C/21 submersible borehole pump with a UMAISOL 100-0.75/22-I motor is in operation at a depth of approximately 30 metres.

One request from local residents was the option to use either solar power or grid electricity during operation. The energy supply was therefore deliberately designed as a hybrid system: alongside the public power grid, photovoltaic panels serve as the primary energy source. This is made possible by a VSD frequency inverter panel, which automatically connects both sources and controls pump operation.

The water drawn from the well is then pumped through a pipeline into a storage tank with a capacity of 18.8 cubic meters, located on a water tower approximately 10 metres high. From there, it is distributed through a network of HDPE pipes, supplying a neighbourhood of 1,136 residents. The pressure is generated primarily by gravity and the tower's height.

At the same time, the project embeds sustainability not only in technology but also in financing, operation, and governance. A water committee organises the supply at the village level under the umbrella of a village-owned enterprise, known in Indonesian as Badan Usaha Milik Desa (BUMDES). Training in management and financial reporting has strengthened the committee and helped secure the water supply over the long term. In this way, the village uses local water resources not only to meet the population’s daily needs but also to manage these resources economically and generate additional income.

“Through this collaboration, KSB Indonesia aims to deliver sustainable solutions that go beyond technology by strengthening village-level management capacity and promoting the use of renewable energy,” says Teo Boon Teong, Managing Director of KSB Indonesia, summing up the approach.

When a village such as Tumpangkrasak receives a new water supply, more changes than just the infrastructure. For the people who live there, it means more reliable access to clean water, and hence a tangible improvement in everyday life. That is why the inauguration in December 2025 was attended by KSB Indonesia’s management, represented by Arman Reyes Furqon, Finance Director of PT KSB Indonesia, Sam’ani Intakoris, Head of Kudus Regency, as well as representatives of the community and ITB. Their joint appearance highlighted the project’s foundation: close cooperation between government, science, business, and the community. After all, a water supply that works reliably over the long term rarely results from isolated efforts.