The 10th World Water Forum in Bali, themed “Water for Shared Prosperity,” concluded last week. Indonesian Minister for Housing and Public Works, Basuki Hadimulyono, officiated the closing ceremony.
A key highlight was the successful promotion of “Lake Day,” which received unanimous praise for its organization, marking the event as one of the most memorable international water forums ever held.
The 11th World Water Forum is scheduled to take place in Saudi in 2027, according to the communique.
Ministerial Decrees:
The 10th World Water Forum in Bali issued several key decrees:
- Establishing a Centre of Excellence on Water and Climate Resilience in the Asia-Pacific Region.
- Instituting “Lake Day.”
- Managing water sources on small islands.
- Proposing the establishment of Global Water Funds.
- Creating 113 projects, totaling US$9.4 billion, to provide clean and healthy water to three million families and support domestic water waste management for 300,000 families worldwide.
Public Access to Water Sources:
From the Indonesian perspective, human rights and anti-corruption watchdogs have endorsed the direct involvement of the public in water management. This advocacy has gained momentum as the number of water product companies in Indonesia increases, often authorized by local district chiefs to exploit water sources.
Although Indonesian families still primarily use home-based wells, in urban areas where clean water is scarce, residents often rely on state-owned water companies for bathing and cooking but opt for bottled water for drinking.
The Indonesian government has unveiled a US$9.4 billion initiative to fund a drinking water system and a net-zero Water Supply Infrastructure Project in the new capital city of IKN, located in East Kalimantan Province.
WWF Council President Loic Fauchon has urged all heads of state and delegation leaders to integrate “water rights” into their legal systems to ensure fair water access for everyone.
