Bali's water crisis threatens local culture, UNESCO sites

Far from Bali's beaches and hotels, farmer I Ketut Jata stands on a mountainside, staring at terraced land that is too dry to grow the rice his family has long relied on for food and income.

"It is no longer possible to work in the fields as a farmer," he says. Bali's water crisis is worsening from tourism development, population growth and water mismanagement, experts and environmental groups warn. Water shortages already are affecting UNESCO sites, wells, food production and Balinese culture and experts say the situation will deteriorate further if existing water control policies are not enforced across the island.

A tropical, volcanic island in the center of Indonesia's archipelago, Bali relies on water from three main sources: crater lakes, rivers and shallow groundwater. A unique traditional irrigation system, called the "subak," distributes water through a network of canals, dams and tunnels. The subak, made a UNESCO site in 2012, is central to Balinese culture, representing the Balinese Hindu philosophy of "Tri Hita Karana"— harmony between people, nature and the spiritual realm. "This is one of the very special cases of living landscapes in Asia," said Feng Jing, who works with UNESCO in Bangkok.

A farmer works in a field with a traditional terrace irrigation system called a "subak' in Jatiluwih in Tabanan, Bali, Indonesia, Monday, April 18, 2022. Bali faces a looming water crisis from tourism development, population growth and water mismanagement, experts and environmental groups warn. While water shortages are already affecting the UNESCO site, wells, food production and Balinese culture, experts project these issues will worsen if existing policies are not equally enforced across the entire island. Credit: AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana Read more

Tourists walk near rice fields irrigated by a traditional terrace system called a "subak" in Jatiluwih in Tabanan, Bali, Indonesia, Monday, April 18, 2022. Bali faces a looming water crisis from tourism development, population growth and water mismanagement, experts and environmental groups warn. While water shortages are already affecting the UNESCO site, wells, food production and Balinese culture, experts project these issues will worsen if existing policies are not equally enforced across the entire island. Credit: AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana Read more

A man washes his face from water in Munduk, Bali, Indonesia, Sunday, April 17, 2022. In less than a decade, Bali's water table has decreased over 50 meters (164 feet) in some areas, raising concerns that it could lead to worsening water crisis on the tropical tourist destination. Credit: AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana Read more

A farmer work in a field with a traditional terrace irrigation system called a "subak" in Jatiluwih in Tabanan, Bali, Indonesia, Sunday, April 17, 2022. Bali faces a looming water crisis from tourism development, population growth and water mismanagement, experts and environmental groups warn. While water shortages are already affecting the UNESCO site, wells, food production and Balinese culture, experts project these issues will worsen if existing policies are not equally enforced across the entire island. Credit: AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana Read more

A man collects water from the Tamblingan lake in Buleleng Bali, Indonesia, Saturday, April 16, 2022. In less than a decade, Bali's water table has decreased over 50 meters (164 feet) in some areas, raising concerns that it could lead to worsening water crisis on the tropical tourist destination. Credit: AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana Read more

Motorists ride past rice fields fed by a traditional terrace irrigation system called a "subak" in Jatiluwih in Tabanan, Bali, Indonesia, Monday, April 18, 2022. Bali faces a looming water crisis from tourism development, population growth and water mismanagement, experts and environmental groups warn. While water shortages are already affecting the UNESCO site, wells, food production and Balinese culture, experts project these issues will worsen if existing policies are not equally enforced across the entire island. Credit: AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana Read more

Tourists walk near rice fields irrigated by a traditional terrace system called a "subak" in Jatiluwih in Tabanan, Bali, Indonesia, Monday, April 18, 2022. Bali faces a looming water crisis from tourism development, population growth and water mismanagement, experts and environmental groups warn. While water shortages are already affecting the UNESCO site, wells, food production and Balinese culture, experts project these issues will worsen if existing policies are not equally enforced across the entire island. Credit: AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana Read more

A fisherman rows his boat on the Tamblingan lake in Buleleng, Bali, Indonesia, Saturday, April 16, 2022. In less than a decade, Bali's water table has decreased over 50 meters (164 feet) in some areas, raising concerns that it could lead to worsening water crisis on the tropical tourist destination. Credit: AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana Read more