Thank You Mrs. Risma, Now We No Longer Have To Buy Water

MALAKA (19 December 2023) - A student held out a piece of cardboard with the words "Wa hemu sosa hai Ti'an" meaning Now You No Longer Have to Buy Water.  The red cardboard was laid out by St. Albertus Plus High School students, Bakiruk Village, Central Malaka District, Malacca Regency, East Nusa Tenggara during the visit of Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini, Monday 18 December 2023.

The cardboard spread expressed gratitude to Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini because students no longer need to buy water after the Ministry of Social Affairs installed a water management machine, Reverse Osmosis (RO).  RO technology can change well water into ready-to-drink water.

It was Yohanes Kelvin Akoit (18), a Class 3 student at St Albertus Plus High School, who brought the writing.  He admitted that ready-to-drink water installation at his school could provide economic relief.

"We don't buy water anymore. We bought it because the weather in Malacca is very hot so we can use up to 4 cartons of water at this school," he said when met after the inauguration of the Integrated Water Management Installation in Malacca, on Monday (18/12).

Before RO was installed, he and his friends had to spend IDR 500 to buy 1 glass of mineral water containing 240 ml.  With the hot conditions in Malacca, of course, the need for drinking water is huge.

The hotter it is, the more pocket money he has to spend to buy drinking water.  For Kelvin, having ready-to-drink water not only helps ease the economic burden but also helps preserve the earth.

"With this water, we can reduce plastic waste and can help our economy at school. We don't come to school with money, when we come we can get water. From home we just have to bring a water bottle so we can fill it up and drink when we arrive at school," he said.

The benefits he felt made Kelvin and her friends write a poster thanking Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini.  For Kelvin, the water installation is very beneficial for the people of Malacca.

Meanwhile, Minister of Social Affairs said her focus was on the need for clean water for children's growth.  In several areas, Minister of Social Affairs found that many residents in one community had disabilities.  After investigation, it turned out that the source of the water consumed contained metals and bacteria. 

In Malacca itself, the water sources are quite clean.  This means it doesn't contain many dangerous substances.  However, for schools, Minister of Social Affairs specifically installed ROs so children can immediately consume clean water.

"Why is water ready to drink when at school, often children don't bring provisions. So this water can be immediately ready to drink so that children don't need to bring provisions or ask for pocket money to buy drinks because they are thirsty," said Minister of Social Affairs. 

Ministry of Social Affairs installed 18 integrated ready-to-drink water treatment plants at 18 points, including at the school.  Other water treatment plants have been installed in churches, mosques, schools, and villages in Malacca Regency.  A total of RO with a capacity of 1,500 liters was installed at 15 points, a capacity of 3,000 liters at 1 point, and a capacity of 6,000 liters at 2 points.