Public-Private Partnership (PPP) to Improve the Drinking Water Supply System: A Study on the Regional Government of East Java Province

Abstract

The management of the drinking water supply system is one of the priorities for successful regional development. There have been many efforts to improve the quality of drinking water management, yet the results are still suboptimal. This study aimed to analyze the good governance in the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) to improve the quality of the drinking water supply system in Umbulan, East Java, Indonesia. This study was qualitative involving informants from related government offices. Data were collected through interviews, documentation, and observations. Findings confirmed the high community needs for drinking water that the government could not completely fulfill due to limited funds. Thus, the government needed support from the private sector. In addition, the potential of the Umbulan water spring as a source of drinking water had not been fully explored. If the government continues the partnership, it is important to have uniform perceptions with the private partners. The partnership also needs to involve all stakeholders, including policymakers and the community, to ensure that aspirations from all parties are well channeled. Continuous supervision must also be done on the partnership to maintain service quality and compliance with regulations.