INDOPOSCO.ID – Wilmar Central Kalimantan (Kalteng) continues to strengthen its commitment to improving community welfare through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs. This year, the company has relaunched a clean water provision program targeting villages around its operational areas, including schools that have long faced limited access to safe drinking water.
Loh Koon Wai, Plantation Head of Wilmar Kalteng, explained that clean water is a top priority because it directly impacts public health, particularly for schoolchildren.
“Our goal is simple but very important: to ensure that the surrounding communities, including children, have access to safe drinking water. Clean water is the foundation of health,” he said during the CSR Clean Water Filtration Training Program for Schools and Communities at STC Mustika Sembuluh, Kotawaringin Timur (Kotim), Central Kalimantan, on Wednesday, November 19, 2025. During the event, clean water filtration units were also distributed to schools and communities.
According to Loh Koon Wai, although Wilmar already has a water treatment plant sufficient for employees, the company sees it as important to extend the benefits to surrounding villages that have previously faced chronic clean water issues.
“This program is a tangible expression of the company’s care for communities living alongside our plantation areas,” he emphasized.
Loh stressed that the entire Wilmar CSR team fully supports the sustainability of this program. He highlighted the importance of collaboration between the company, communities, and other stakeholders so that the program does not run temporarily, but fosters long-term independence.
“We want the community to be self-reliant. The company only opens the path; the community must be able to continue and maintain the facilities,” he explained.
The program targets all villages around Wilmar’s operational areas. Each village is planned to receive one portable water filter unit from Singapore. This technology was chosen for being simple, effective, not requiring high electricity, and usable even in remote areas.
“This equipment is affordable but proven highly effective. Most importantly, it’s easy for the community to use,” added Loh.
Schools are also a priority. Access to clean water is considered essential for supporting children’s nutrition and health.
In addition to clean water provision, Wilmar also prepares other programs to promote local economic development, including developing local products. These initiatives are expected to create new business opportunities and increase community income.
Wilmar continues to run plasma programs in several operational areas as part of its commitment to meeting regulatory obligations.
With these expanded programs, Loh Koon Wai emphasized that Wilmar wants communities to feel the benefits of the company’s presence not only in the short term but sustainably.
“We are here together with the communities. This program is not just an obligation, but a long-term commitment so that surrounding villages grow alongside us,” he said.
Meanwhile, SDN 1 Pantap, Desa Pantap, Mentaya Hulu District, Kotim, participated in clean water filtration training to address the long-standing safe drinking water crisis at the school.
Ahmad Muzakir, principal of SDN 1 Pantap, stated that the training is crucial given the limited water facilities and the inadequate quality of water available at the school.
He explained that SDN 1 Pantap is a small school with few students. Until now, students’ drinking water fully depends on rainwater collected in tanks. For bathing and other needs, the school uses well water treated with alum (tawas) as a clarifier.
“Our well water is murky, sticky, and sometimes smells like mud. It’s not safe to drink and even uncomfortable for bathing without treatment,” he said.
To clarify the well water, the school uses approximately three tablespoons of alum for a 1,200-liter tank. The clarification process takes five to six hours, and although the water appears clearer afterward, the muddy smell sometimes remains.
Ahmad Muzakir mentioned that he learned this method from YouTube. The monthly cost for alum to meet the school and teachers’ housing needs is around Rp150,000, while purchasing clean water in the village is expensive and not consistently accessible.
“That’s why clean water filtration training is seen as a long-term, efficient, and economical solution,” he said.
He explained that the quality of well water is affected by the type of soil in the area, making it often colored and murky. Water is only safe after treatment, and consuming it untreated still poses health risks. With the new filtration equipment introduced in the training, the school hopes water quality will improve significantly.
“We see this filtration device as a new hope. We are still assessing its effectiveness, especially for sticky or resin-like well water. But we are optimistic,” Ahmad said.
Well water samples have also been collected for further analysis to ensure quality after filtration.
Ahmad emphasized that the main goal of the clean water filtration training is for the school to provide water that meets consumption standards for students and teachers. Although rainwater is considered clean, its supply is not always stable, especially during the dry season. With filtration technology, the school hopes to utilize well water more safely.
“We want the children in this school to get truly clean water. This is not only about comfort but about health,” he stressed.
The training is expected to be the start of the school’s self-reliance in providing clean water while improving the learning environment for all school residents.
dr. Noorliyana, Head of Public Health at the Kotim Health Office, stated that clean water access in Kotim still faces major challenges.
The scarcity of clean water is influenced by the region’s extreme geographical variations. Kotim, which comprises 17 subdistricts, includes peatlands, highlands, and coastal areas.
“Most of our region is peatland. The water tends to be acidic and high in iron. Meanwhile, in the southern coastal areas, obtaining clean water is very difficult,” she explained.
Health Risks of Poor Water Quality
In many assisted areas, water is typically brownish, acidic, and rich in iron content. This poses serious health risks if consumed untreated.
“Unsafe water can cause various diseases. The most common is diarrhea. Chemical exposure in water can also lead to skin diseases,” said dr. Noorliyana.
Long-term consumption of substandard water can further harm children’s health. Repeated exposure increases the risk of stunting due to digestive and nutrient absorption disorders.
She emphasized that modern sanitation and clean water programs are critical for stunting prevention in Kotim. Although the effects are indirect, improving water quality will significantly impact children’s health.
“With water filtration devices, children can drink safer water. This is important for their metabolism and growth,” she stressed.
Filters are considered an effective solution, particularly for schools in peatland and coastal areas.
dr. Noorliyana also noted that many villages still lack proper sanitation infrastructure, worsening the risk of water-borne diseases.
She hopes that all stakeholders government, private sector, and communities—will collaborate to expand access to clean water.
“Clean water is a basic necessity. When it is fulfilled, public health quality will improve significantly,” she concluded.
Efforts to improve water quality in Kotawaringin Timur are expected to reduce disease burden, improve quality of life, and ensure children can grow healthily without the threat of stunting.
Assisted MSMEs
In the development of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), Widiyanto Wiwid, CSR Manager of Wilmar Central Kalimantan Project, stated that Wilmar provides mentoring for fish product management.
The beneficiaries of this support are local women members of the PKK organization. Wilmar provides equipment and training as part of the mentorship.
Herry Subrata, SIKom, Village Head of Sembuluh One, Kotim, added that mentoring on fish product management has been carried out with enthusiastic participation from women.
The products have already been ordered and circulate locally. Plans are underway to explore cooperation with cooperatives.
“External support, including equipment and training from Wilmar, has been very helpful. The village has also established a production kitchen using village funds,” he said.
The production kitchen is still in a learning and pioneering phase. It is hoped that involving external parties will provide women further training in hygienic kitchen practices.
“The ultimate goal is to expand the recognition of these fish products beyond Danau Sembuluh so they can be widely known and obtain distribution permits,” he added. (aro)
