Who is ‘stealing’ Bali’s water? The Impact of Tourism on a Precious Resource
Bali, Indonesia – The rapid growth of tourism in Bali has led to a significant depletion of the island’s freshwater resources, threatening traditional farming, local communities, and centuries-old irrigation systems. For decades, Bali’s water-sharing cooperative, known as subak, has governed irrigation with a philosophy that treats water as a sacred gift to be shared equitably among rice farmers. However, recent developments show this balance is breaking down under the pressure of tourism’s insatiable water demand.
Declining Rice Fields and Drying Water Sources
Putu Partayasa, a 52-year-old farmer, observes with concern as the water that once nourished his rice terraces grows scarce during the dry season. “Fifteen years ago, we had water every day. Today, it’s getting less,” he says, pointing to the shrinking forest and dwindling springs upstream. Many of his neighbors have already sold their farmland, and the younger generation shows little interest in continuing farming traditions. As irrigation water is redirected towards tourism infrastructure, traditional rice paddies—crucial not only as a food source but as natural water reservoirs—are being lost at alarming rates.
Official data from the Bali national land agency reveals that the island has lost more than 6,500 hectares (over 16,000 acres) of rice fields in five years, a decline of more than 9%. A prior 2018 report estimated that Bali had lost nearly a quarter of its agricultural land over 25 years due to the rapid growth of tourism, which increased by 330% in that period.
Tourism’s Enormous Water Consumption
Tourism now consumes over 65% of Bali’s fresh water. Luxury resorts demand vast quantities of water to sustain pools, gardens, laundry services, and hotel operations. While an average Balinese resident uses between 30 and 50 liters of water a day, tourists in resorts can consume between 2,000 and 4,000 liters daily.
In southern Bali, groundwater extraction has exceeded sustainable levels, leading to seawater intrusion into coastal aquifers and jeopardizing drinking water supplies. Local NGOs and hydrologists have highlighted the severity of this crisis, with intrusions detected in at least six of the island’s nine districts. Many residents, including those in the picturesque clifftop area of Uluwatu, face intermittent water supplies, often relying on costly deliveries from water trucks.
Water as a Commodity
Behind the scenes, a growing industry supplies water to the tourism sector. In areas like Jimbaran, borewells pump groundwater into trucks that ferry thousands of liters daily to hotels and villas. Some operators hold government permits, but research indicates that around half of the approximately 10,000 water businesses on the island operate illegally or without proper licenses. While personal well drilling is allowed, commercial sale of groundwater often falls into a legal gray area.
The provincial government of Bali has stated that commercial extraction requires permits and that household borewells should not be repurposed for commercial use. However, enforcement has been limited, with oversight responsibilities shifting between provincial and central governments.
Calls for Sustainable Management and Regulation
Niluh Djelantik, a senator representing Bali in Indonesia’s regional representative council, has called for a moratorium on new hotel construction and stricter enforcement of groundwater regulations. “The revenue of Bali tourism comes from the sweat of the people. They don’t need another stress,” she said, emphasizing the need to protect local communities from the adverse impacts of overdevelopment.
In areas like Canggu, farmland has decreased by 60% while construction has risen dramatically. As tourism continues to expand, questions remain about the future of Bali’s traditional water systems, agricultural heritage, and the well-being of its residents.
A Heritage at Risk
The subak system, recognised by UNESCO in 2012 as a World Heritage Site, has linked water, land, culture, and community for over a thousand years. Its collapse due to tourism-driven water diversion not only endangers the island’s environmental health but also erodes a cultural institution that has long been central to Balinese life.
As Bali grapples with the demands of a booming tourism industry, balancing economic growth with sustainable water management and cultural preservation remains a critical challenge for the island’s future.
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