Beyond Pipes and Pumps: Eliza Bhakti Amelia Champions Equitable Water Access Through Policies

For Eliza Bhakti Amelia, access to clean water is more than pipes, pumps, and running taps. In a country where millions still lack safe, reliable access to water, Eliza believes the issue is closely connected to gender equality, social justice, climate change and inclusive development.

Eliza, an official at the Ministry of Public Works’ Directorate of Water Supply, Directorate General of Human Settlements, has spent nearly two decades working in Indonesia’s water sector. At first, water supply issues were simply part of her job. But over time, the work sparked a deeper interest.

‘I’ve learned that providing access to safe drinking water is not as simple as turning a tap,’ said Eliza, who currently serves as Institutional Transformation Team Leader. ‘It involves a long process that intersects with many other issues, such as the environment, gender and even artificial intelligence.’

Seeing the life-changing effects of her work has reinforced her commitment to expanding access to safe water.

‘At every official launch of a drinking water project, I witness how much it benefits people. They no longer have to walk far to collect water – they can simply turn on the tap. Because of this, children, especially girls, can have more time for studying or playing with their friends,’ she added.

An Abundant Resource With Limited Access

With its lakes, rivers and heavy rainfall, Indonesia is rich in water, holding about 6% of the world’s freshwater resources. Yet according to official data, only about one-third of the population has access to safe drinking water.

Because of Indonesia’s archipelagic geography, water resources are unevenly distributed. Some islands have abundant water, while others experience shortages, especially during the dry season. In addition, limited pipes, treatment plants and distribution systems – even in cities – leave about 46% of the population relying on groundwater. Pollution, over-extraction and seawater intrusion further threaten drinking water quality.

Eliza knows well how these challenges affect far more than daily convenience. They have direct consequences for health, education and livelihoods, particularly in rural and underserved communities.

‘When water sources are far from home, the burden of collecting it often falls on women and girls, who may spend hours each day walking long distances instead of attending school or pursuing other opportunities,’ she explained.

Meanwhile, in cities, marginalised communities often rely on water sold in jerrycans because piped water is lacking, meaning they often pay more for water.

Apart from structural challenges, Eliza noted regulatory and financial barriers that also limited access to safe drinking water. Regulations that restrict private sector participation and low tariffs have created financial constraints for state-owned water companies.

‘Ensuring access to safe drinking water in Indonesia is a complex challenge,’ she remarked.

New Perspectives on Water Systems in Australia

In July 2024, Eliza participated in the Australia Awards Short Course on Water Utility Regulatory Approaches, run by Griffith University. The two-week Short Course provided her with knowledge and skills to support more sustainable water management practices.

Through field visits in Queensland and New South Wales, Eliza learned about the central role of state governments in regulating and managing water use across different sectors.

‘Because Australia has experienced severe droughts, its water regulations emphasise water conservation,’ Eliza explained. ‘They regulate how water is used in agriculture, buildings, households and even for emergency purposes such as fire hydrants. Our policies are not yet moving in that direction, so there is plenty of room for improvement.’

She observed that each state had a regulator that ensured water providers supplied safe, reliable, and properly managed drinking water while protecting public health and the environment.

‘The Indonesian Government is also preparing a drinking water regulatory body. The Short Course opened my horizons about the regulatory and policy approaches used there,’ she added.

Applying Lessons to Strengthen Water Governance

The Short Course came at a crucial time, as the ministry is planning to transform the water system from source to tap – from raw water to drinking water and wastewater treatment.

 Eliza gained valuable insights for the planned reforms.

‘There are plenty of lessons that we are adopting in our water supply transformation study, such as establishing a regulatory body, improving water management, and ensuring water availability for emergency use,’ she remarked.

She expects that incorporating these good practices will strengthen water governance and promote more inclusive access to safe drinking water.

Fostering Partnerships for Inclusive Access

In her current role, Eliza is responsible for fostering partnerships with private entities, non-government organisations (NGOs), and other development stakeholders.

Water systems require significant financing, making partnerships a crucial part of the effort. Eliza hopes more projects will be developed under public-private partnership (PPP) schemes in the future.

Other partnerships have included a collaboration between the ministry and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in 2025 to develop a water safety plan and examine the impacts of climate change on water supply.

The ministry has also worked with Korean counterparts to digitalise water utilities through smart water management systems that can optimise distribution systems.

World Water Day: Water for Gender Equality

As the world marks World Water Day, Eliza highlighted the importance of ensuring equitable access to safe drinking water and its role in supporting gender equality.

She noted that in many communities in Indonesia, women still bear responsibility for securing water for their households. They may spend hours walking or standing in line

 just to fetch water.

‘I hope equitable access to safe drinking water can ease this burden and improve public health overall,’ she said.

For Eliza, World Water Day reinforces her commitment to raising awareness of the water crisis and the importance of conservation.

She regularly writes articles for online news outlets to translate government policy, foster understanding of water issues, and encourage solutions, such as installing simple rainwater harvesting systems.

In January 2026, Eliza was one of the winners of a blog competition on sustainability issues held by the blog-based social media platform Kompasiana and Indonesia-based solar panel developer SUN Energy. Her writing explores the application of the Water Nexus—an approach to managing water, energy, and food as one integrated system.

‘It is a moment to reflect on what a drop of water means for livelihoods,’ she said. ‘People in privileged positions often take water for granted, while many areas in Indonesia still face shortages. I hope my small contribution can grow into bigger action.’