Investigating the Factor of Water Consumption Regarding the Impact and Implementation of Water Governance in Urban Areas Iwan Juwana 1,2 , Sinan Vidi Lazuardi 2 , Herdis Herdiansyah 3* 1 Environmental Engineering Department, Institut Teknologi Nasional Bandung, Bandung 40123, Indonesia 2 Research Cluster of Interaction, Community Engagement, and Social Environment, School of Environmental Science, Universitas Indonesia, DKI Jakarta 10430, Indonesia 3 School of Environmental Science, Universitas Indonesia, DKI Jakarta 10430, Indonesia Corresponding Author Email: herdis@ui.ac.id Copyright: ©2024 The authors. This article is published by IIETA and is licensed under the CC BY 4.0 license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). https://doi.org/10.18280/ijei.070107 ABSTRACT Received: 8 January 2024 Revised: 15 February 2024 Accepted: 29 February 2024 Available online: 31 March 2024 Water governance becomes essential to meet societal needs despite water scarcity. However, in Indonesia, disparities in water governance, especially in the area of water quality perception, continue to exist. Therefore, this study investigates how water quality perception is influenced by examining key factors such as satisfaction, trust, and socio- economic status. This study was conducted in Jakarta by surveying through a questionnaire. This study employed satisfaction, trust, and socio-economic status as independent variables and the perception of water quality as a dependent variable. Also, the chi-square test and ordinal logistic regression were employed to test the hypothesis and the significance between independent and dependent variables. Chi-square tests reveal correlations between trust, socioeconomic status, and perception of water quality. However, regression analysis highlights socio-economic status and trust as the primary influential factors. The study provides evidence of unequal access to water across different socio-economic statuses and demonstrates how the need for government transparency and trust in water institutions affects urban communities' perceptions of water quality. Keywords: inequalities, socio-economic status, transparency, urban areas, water governance, water management policies 1. INTRODUCTION The preservation of water resources is paramount, serving as a fundamental necessity for sustaining human life and ensuring the well-being of future generations. This imperative gains significance amid escalating populations and rapid urbanization, intensifying water conservation issues [1]. Indonesia is a perfect example highlighting the criticality of water conservation, with escalating concerns over water sustainability. Data underscores these concerns, revealing a significant decline in water quality—a plunge from 72.77 to 52.62 in the Water Quality Index 2019 [2]. The drop in the water quality index in Indonesia has become a concern because it has become one of the driving factors of water scarcity, since deteriorating water quality could impede access to clean water [3]. Several studies show that water scarcity has negative impacts, such as public health risks due to potential bacterial contamination. Studies, such as one undertaken by Cronin et al. [4] in Jogjakarta, have revealed the relationship between contaminated water—infected with E. coli and Nitrate—and health risks, thereby impacting Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Additionally, another study indicates that water scarcity and pollution pose a high risk to sectors heavily dependent on water, such as agriculture, potentially causing substantial economic losses [5]. In addition, while there is a need for responsible water consumption to minimize water scarcity, polluted water sources caused by improper waste management have worsened the water scarcity in Indonesia [6]. Moreover, mismanagement in various sectors-such as agriculture, tourism, and manufacturing-exacerbates water scarcity concerns, necessitating robust water management policies to regulate sustainable water practices [6]. This study's significance is underscored by the wide- ranging ramifications of water dynamics, extending their influence across local and global contexts and addressing multifaceted issues that demand urgent resolution. Health- wise, contaminated water contributes to health problems and even impacts stunting rates among children due to inadequate access to safe drinking water and sanitation [7]. In addition to health considerations, water scarcity exerts extensive disruptive effects on economic-related issues [8], accounting for a staggering global economic loss of approximately 2.7 trillion US dollars [9]. Industries reliant on water face significant economic drawbacks due to water scarcity, as highlighted by Roson and Damania's findings [10], showcasing its adverse effects on economic activities and global economic inequalities. Efforts to address water-related concerns, encompassing water security, equitable water allocation, and scarcity, demand urgent solutions. Neto [11] asserts that water governance efforts have been far below expectations, emphasizing the need for an integrated framework involving territorial and policy integration—an issue prevalent in International Journal of Environmental Impacts Vol. 7, No. 1, March, 2024, pp. 55-64 Journal homepage: http://iieta.org/journals/ijei 55