Indonesian Army expands clean water, environmental programs

Gusty Da Costa
The Indonesian Army is tackling clean water shortages and supporting environmental sustainability through its Manunggal Air program. The initiative, launched in 2022, has established thousands of clean water points across the country, many of them serving rural and remote areas with limited access to basic necessities. Led by Gen. Maruli Simanjuntak, the Army’s chief of staff, the program is part of broader efforts to enhance community welfare and national food security.
Manunggal Air is a collaboration among the Indonesian Army, local governments and the private sector. In mid-September 2024, Simanjuntak inaugurated a clean water facility in Buleleng, a village in Central Sulawesi province, marking a program milestone. “Today, we are proud to announce that the Indonesian Army has succeeded in building 2,700 clean water points in various regions in Indonesia,” Simanjuntak said.
The facilities use hydraulic ram pumps, drilled wells and innovative technology to provide sustainable water for daily household use and to ensure reliable irrigation for agriculture.
“This program is very important for improving the quality of life of our people, and we hope this will be an example of success that can be followed by other areas in Morowali,” said Dr. Yusman Mahbub, acting regent of Morowali in Central Sulawesi.
As part of the program’s recent expansion, new water points are expected to support farmers by increasing crop yields. “Clean water is a basic right of every citizen,” Simanjuntak said. “We are committed to continuing to implement this program routinely in order to provide direct benefits to communities in great need.”
In the Central Java village of Tipar, Army personnel constructed 32 clean water points to serve about 6,000 residents. During the 2023 dry season, villagers had to pay about 10 cents per liter for water because of dry or polluted wells.
The initiative has a key role in supporting national food security, particularly in agricultural areas. “If the availability of water occurs regularly, then food crops can produce well in quantity and quality, which can even exceed the target,” Jakarta-based defense analyst Ade P. Marboen told FORUM.
The Manunggal Air program also contributes to expanding agricultural land. “This is an important step to ensure that Indonesia can be independent in terms of food production, considering that several countries have stopped exporting food for their domestic needs,” Simanjuntak said.
Access to clean water is vital for military operations, retired Indonesian Army Maj. Gen. Jan Pieter Ate told FORUM. “The Army provides benefits to the regions where they are located,” he said. “Water is important, every operation needs water.”
The Army also has launched large-scale environmental initiatives, including tree planting to improve rural ecosystems. “Tree planting can provide ecological and economic benefits to the wider community,” Marboen said. “In the long run, this can increase the resilience of the community.”
Gusty Da Costa is a FORUM contributor based in Jakarta, Indonesia.