Residents Beside the Railway Gain Clean Water through Master Meter Programme
Residents of Kampung Margorejo, in Gilingan urban village, Banjarsari district, Surakarta, have begun gaining access to clean water. Through the Master Meter programme, 50 households in the densely populated area now receive piped water directly in their homes.
Suwarno, head of neighbourhood association RT 1/RW 10 in Gilingan, is among those benefiting from the programme. He said he was saving money by getting water from the Master Meter network, at an average cost of Rp25,000 a month.
“It saves a lot. We used to rely on bottled water for our needs. Not any more. We draw the water and chill it. We used four bottles a month. This has made a significant difference for me; it is very useful,” he said at his home in Gilingan, Banjarsari, Surakarta, on Thursday (8 October 2026).
He hopes the Master Meter programme can be expanded, as demand from the community is high. This is particularly important during the dry season, when water sources begin to dwindle.
“At this time of year, we used to be anxious because water sources were drying up. Now we no longer have to worry,” Suwarno said.
The Master Meter programme is run by Coca-Cola Foundation Indonesia in partnership with the Surakarta municipal water company, PDAM Toya Wening, and the Rural Technology Development Institute (LPTP), with the involvement of Community Self-Help Groups (KSM). Launched in October 2025, the programme combines connections to the municipal water network with community-based distribution.
Under the scheme, the water company is responsible for the main meter and its installation, as well as the network up to the point where water is distributed to the community. The KSM, representing local residents, is responsible for the distribution network beyond the meter.
Separately, Coca-Cola Foundation Indonesia chairman Triyono Prijosoesilo said access to and the availability of clean water remained a challenge for communities, including in major cities. The Master Meter programme was designed to bridge the gap between residents and clean water.
Triyono said the collectively managed Master Meter connects around 50 households in Margorejo, providing them with a regular supply of clean water.
“It supports community empowerment and creates social infrastructure so that the system can be managed effectively. We are pleased that the benefits are already beginning to be felt,” he said.
Bayu Tunggul, wastewater manager at PDAM Toya Wening in Surakarta, said the Master Meter programme targets communities with limited land-tenure documentation and financial means. Through a collective network, residents can obtain drinking water at more affordable rates.
“In Margorejo, in Gilingan, many homes are on land belonging to PT KAI [the state railway company]. Secondly, when land tenure is not legally documented, we usually provide communal water points,” Bayu said.
The Master Meter scheme also addresses uncertain land tenure and health risks from groundwater. Before the programme was introduced, residents had to rely on shallow wells, many of which had high levels of E. coli contamination.
“Many shallow wells in Surakarta are now contaminated with E. coli. Gilingan itself is one of the areas targeted for reducing stunting,” he added.
Bayu praised the Master Meter facilities, noting that residents had lodged no complaints about access to clean water during the year since the system began operating.
“I hope other foundations will be able to replicate this in the future. Involving communities through foundation partners is one of their responsibilities,” he said.