The Real Costs of Boiling Water in Indonesia

In Indonesia, boiling water remains the most common method of water treatment. According to data from the Indonesian Ministry of Health’s 2020 national survey, 59.4% of households treat their water before drinking, and 99% of those households rely on boiling. Despite its prevalence, this traditional practice comes with a range of hidden costs and challenges that often go unnoticed.

Indonesians and Boiled Water: A Taste of Tradition

While many cultures associate boiled water with a bland or even unpleasant taste, Indonesians often have a different perspective. Here’s why:

• Cultural and Historical Factors: Indonesia has a long history of using boiled water for various purposes, including drinking, cooking, and making traditional beverages. This has led to a cultural acceptance and even preference for the taste of boiled water.  When asked people will often say my mother used to boil water and so did her mother and her mother. 
• Health and Hygiene: Boiled water is often seen as a safer and healthier option, especially in areas with limited access to clean drinking water. This association has reinforced the positive perception of boiled water’s taste. Boiling water is endorsed by the ministry of health. It is even recommended to boil bottled water. 
• Traditional Beverages: Many Indonesian beverages, such as jamu (traditional herbal drinks) and teh manis  or teh tawar (sweet or unsweetened tea), are made using boiled water. This may have contributed to the cultural association of boiled water with pleasant tastes.

However, it’s important to note that individual preferences vary. Some Indonesians may still find boiled water to be lacking in flavor or even unpleasant.  Nazava field workers experienced that even in households some family members drink boiled waters and others bottled water.  In some areas in Eastern Indonesia like Sabu Island we found that many people drink water untreated because they do not like the taste and they do not have enough fuel to boil water. 

 The perception of boiled water’s taste often depends on factors like personal preferences, cultural upbringing, and the specific preparation methods used.

Boiling Water:  Time-Consuming & Expensive

To start with a disclaimer:  as a water filter company we are a little bit biased. 

Nazava’s experience in selling water filters, especially to women, reveals that although boiling is an ingrained habit, many women do not enjoy it. In fact, they recognize several downsides. For starters, boiling water with gas is expensive. Around 50% of household gas usage goes toward boiling water, costing families approximately Rp50,000 per month, or Rp600,000 annually—more than the cost of a Nazava water filter. According to wikipedia women spend US11 per month on boiling (Water supply and sanitation in Indonesia – Wikipedia) 

Furthermore, subsidized gas is not always readily available, adding yet another layer of stress. For households that rely on firewood, boiling becomes even more time-consuming, with some women spending an additional 3-4 hours each week gathering wood. Some households buy fuelwood. This is often even more expensive than buying gas.

Effectivity of boiling water

Bringing water to a rolling boil is effective in killing bacteria (see 141Boil water for Web.pdf (who.int)) however afterwards in order to avoid recontamination water needs to be stored in closed containers. Because water is normally stored in unclean open containers most boiled water still contains bacteria. This Microbiologic effectiveness of boiling and safe water storage in South Sulawesi, Indonesia | Journal of Water and Health | IWA Publishing (iwaponline.com) study in Sulawesi found that 50% of water that was boiled was contaminated (again) with bacteria from feces (e-coli).

When we speak to prospective clients, they are aware that while boiling kills bacteria, it doesn’t remove dirt or impurities. Many women must let their water settle before boiling it, adding another step to an already tedious process. While women often accept this responsibility as part of their daily routine, they would much rather spend their time on other tasks.

Summarizing because the high risk of contamination during cooling of the water boiling is not that effective in removing bacteria. As boiling does not remove dirt it is not effective in making water clear. 

The Taste Debate: Boiled vs. Filtered Water

There is also the issue of taste. Some people prefer the taste of boiled water. Taste is not something that can be objectively determined so we will not burn our fingers on this one. 

Water filters: so much better than boiling. 

Boiling is a perfectly safe method as long as you store your water safely after boiling and you accept the costs and the hassle. 

Using a Nazava water filter to make your water potable offers the following benefits:

Effective: Nazava water filters remove 99.9% of bacteria, as tested by the WHO. These filters don’t just kill bacteria—they physically remove them. In addition to eliminating pathogens, Nazava filters also remove dirt. Even if your water is initially very cloudy, it will be clear after filtration!

Safe storage: Nazava water filters come with a built-in safe storage compartment for the filtered water, ensuring it is not easily recontaminated after filtration.

Time-saving: Simply fill the upper tank with water, and after a few hours, you’ll have liters of fresh water in the lower tank. Unlike boiling, you don’t need to monitor the process. Even children can do it!

Water whenever you want it: When relying on boiling, if you’re thirsty, you need to first boil the water, wait for it to cool, and then drink it. This can take a lot of time! With a Nazava filter, you always have a ready supply of clean water in your home, with the safe storage container holding up to 16 liters.

More economical: Many Indonesians use two LPG tanks per month to boil water, costing around Rp50,000 each month. A Nazava water filter costs Rp500,000 and lasts for three years before any replacement is needed. Over that same period, someone would spend Rp1.8 million on boiling water. With a filter, our clients can save approximately Rp1.3 million.

What do Nazava filter users say about boiling vs filtering water

I recently visited 20 households during the validation process for Nazava’s carbon credit project, customers mentioned three key benefits of using water filters:

1. Significant cost savings
2. Better taste
3. Greater convenience

Interestingly, the topic of improved health, which is often seen as the primary motivation for treating water, was mentioned less frequently. It seems that the practical benefits of savings, taste, and convenience resonate more strongly with consumers.

During our impact survey where we interviewed 477 users of Nazava filters 89% of filter users said they observed less smoke in the kitchen.  80% said they are saving a lot of time and a whopping 93% say they save a lot of money since they are using a Nazava water filter. 

Promoting Water Filtration in Indonesia

Why does boiling stay so popular? Promoting filters requires addressing not just the financial and time-saving benefits but also overcoming psychological barriers. Many people who do not know about water filters. Besides, many believe that boiled water is safer, and some even boil already safe water, such as bottled water. To shift this mindset, efforts need to focus on education and community engagement. Local stakeholders, like the Health Agency and community health centers, can play a crucial role in spreading awareness of the benefits of water filtration. The Indonesian government acknowledges ceramic filters like Nazava as a way to treat water in the household level as a part of the Community Led Total Sanitation Strategy (or STBM in Indonesia) 

At Nazava, we are committed to helping families move away from the outdated practice of boiling water, empowering them with an affordable, time-saving, and environmentally friendly alternative— Nazava water filters.