The 2017 International Community Plumbing Challenge (CPC2017) completed its Construction Week activities, delivering a sustainable upgrade of water supply, wastewater, and hand-washing facilities at an elementary school in Cicau Village, Cikarang, Bekasi (West Java), Indonesia. During the week, CPC2017 was able to provide free medical treatment and counseling on the importance of hygiene to members of the community.

The International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Foundation (IWSH) Community Plumbing Challenge program aims to improve public health in areas where communities have a lack of basic sanitation and safe drinking water systems. Previously the program was presented in India (2015) and South Africa (2016).

During Construction Week, an International Team of plumbing professionals – plus trades including bricklaying, welding and carpentry – from across the world increased the number of toilets; constructed a new hand-washing area; installed two new elevated water tanks; and installed a new wastewater system at Sekolah Dasar Negeri (SDN: “Public Elementary School”) Cicau 02.

“CPC2017, our most ambitious and far-reaching program yet, brought together young, talented tradespeople from around the world to Cicau Village in Indonesia to provide clean water and safe, reliable sanitation to an elementary school and to teach the schoolchildren – and the village as a whole – about how important plumbing is to one’s health,” IWSH Managing Director Megan Lehtonen said.

In addition to the work plan, a team representing IWSH held social events on the importance of hygiene for public health, in collaboration with Cikarang District Health Clinic.

PKK Cicau Village Chairman Ibu Juriah said the activity was valuable for teaching children how to wash their hands and about the overall importance of hygiene. Another resident, Mrs. Herlina, said obtaining clean water in the village was difficult. She said that even though there are local, government-owned water utilities called PDAMs, the water is not distributed properly.

Dr. Yuke Rishna Arryani, a general practitioner who often provides free medical treatment in the village, said the CPC2017 activity indirectly helped their programs raise awareness about the importance of clean water.

Visit www.iapmo.org.