Bali, one province in Indonesia was found through the expedition at the beginning of 20th  century by spices seekers of Dutch. In this land, they only found a human life harmonized with unique culture and exotic nature. Since the age of Hindu kingdom still prevail in Indonesia, the Javanese arranged their travel to Bali for religious purpose. Beautiful nature have guarded by local residents through their life philosphy of Tri Hita Karana, the harmonious (balance) between God, people, and nature.

Their expedition in Bali was reported to the king of Netherlands. In year 1920 foreign tourists were coming to Bali because they have triggered by their curiosity about nature and culture. The name of Bali became known to the world through books, movies, magazines, art dance, painting orders, and better attitude among Balinese. To acommodate tourists visiting Bali, development began still at colonialism age by taking construction of a hotel in 1928 located at the heart of Bali island: Denpasar.

In the period of Indonesia?s new order year 1966 – or 20 years after independent declaration, tourism sector is the most reliable as fertilizers to enrich economy and foreign exchange. PELITA, meaning five years development plan started since 1969 for 6 periods has prioritized ?tourism in Bali? as the most important development plan. The number of tourist visiting Bali has increased sharply from year to year, from 213 tourists in 1924 became 3,278,589 tourists in 2012. Construction of hotel from only one number in 1928 now reach by 1,914.

Infrastructure such as inter-island ports, airport, roadways, bridges, and toll over the sea were getting developed continously. Tourism industry was developed rapidly as well, such as travel agencies, shopping malls, resorts, and residential investors. Uncontrolled development was called as efforts to make over Bali land. A beautiful and exotic ecosystem was dissapeared, while the new ecosystem and modern civilization was formed. Indonesian population from outside Bali were coming in, they have triggered by the beauty of new ecosystem face. Therefore, unplanned urbanization was occured.

Urbanization and population growth accompanied with decreased quality of natural resources has made the need for providing clean water became problematic, especially in areas affected by development like Bali. Development requires high demand for clean water, and the volume of water delivered by local water company was rely on increased number of the customers.

The demand for clean water require special attention, because if adequate clean water are unavailable, it will make impacts on public health. In Bali, the amount of water customers shows an increased number each year. The highest percentage number of water customers in 2012 was contrbuted by group of household customers (88.36%) and the second was group of trade customers (9.12%), which both of them are impact of urbanization occured in Bali.

Written by Abdillah Farkhan

Junior Researcher, Ecosystem and Human Health Program

Center for Health Policy and Social Change Indonesia