Jesuits’ Clean Water Project Transforms Daily Life for 1,800 People in Rural Timor-Leste

Nearly 1,800 people in rural Timor-Leste have gained access to safer and more reliable water through a Jesuit-led project that is reducing the time families spend collecting water and improving health, education and livelihoods.

The Clean Water Project, supported by Jesuit Mission Australia and implemented with local partner Jesuit Social Service (JSS) Timor-Leste, pumps water from springs or underground sources to village tanks, with taps installed at accessible locations for residents.

In Busadau, a small sub-village in rural Timor-Leste, families now have clean running water close to their homes for the first time.

Before the project, children often collected water while adults worked during the day. The task took time away from school, rest and play.

“The spring is far below where we live,” said Luciano, a Busadau resident. “Fetching drinking water meant ten or more trips a day with five-liter containers. These had to be carried by hand because there was no road access to the spring. Each trip took almost an hour.”

The unreliable water supply also affected food production. During the dry season, water sources could disappear, while heavy rains could contaminate them and make the water unsafe to drink.

The lack of reliable water affected health, sanitation, education and food security, particularly for children and families.

Busadau resident Meliana said the new water supply has significantly changed daily life.

“I am very happy because water is now so close to home,” she said. “In the past, the spring where we got our water was very far away, and sometimes it would get dirty so we would have to wait hours for it to become clean again. Now, even during the rainy season, we have clean water!”

Community participation is a central part of the project. Residents are involved from the beginning and receive support to practice safe hygiene, maintain the water systems and protect local water sources.

The project aims to create a sustainable water supply while strengthening community capacity to manage the systems after installation.

Clare Dunstan, Relationship Manager at Jesuit Mission Australia, said the project demonstrates the impact of combining local leadership with support from donors.

“For families in Busadau, reliable water nearby means children have more time for school, parents have more security, and the whole community has a stronger foundation for health and opportunity,” she said.

“With continued support, Jesuit Mission can help more communities in Timor-Leste build lasting access to safe water.”