Water Flows as far as Ketapang

Decades late, more than 150 households in Sibolga, North Sumatra, have tap water at home. Some are behind on their payments.

Ismawati Tampubolon walks to the bathroom in the rear of her house at Gang Kelinci, Jalan Ketapang, carrying a pile of dirty clothes. She rinses the clothing with water from the tap, a bucket below overflowing with water. The 60-year-old woman considers it a luxury. "Now I can wash my clothes at