'Ecohydrology' may help solve water crisis<\/p>\n
Tb. Arie Rukmantara, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
With some provinces being hit by water shortages, scientists are
\nsuggesting the use of ecohydrology to overcome the problem.<\/p>\n
\"Actually, such shortages are common across the world. UNESCO
\nhas detected that since the mid-1990s both the quality and the
\nquantity of water has been degraded all over the planet,\" said
\nGadis Sri Haryani of the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI).<\/p>\n
She said water shortages were caused by diminishing forests,
\nwhich are vital to retaining rainwater.<\/p>\n
\"Dwindling forests disrupt the hydrological cycle, known as
\nthe water cycle, in which after rainfall the water does not go
\nstraight out to sea. It should be retained in the soil in
\nforests, so that during the dry season we do not experience
\ndrought,\" said Gadis, director of research for limnology, which
\nconcerns the study of inland waters.<\/p>\n
Water shortages have occurred in some of the nation's most
\npopulated cities, such as Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Joint venture water company PT PAM Lyonnaise Jaya, which
\nmanages tap water supply for the eastern half of the capital, has
\nwarned that unless the government finds new water sources,
\nJakarta could suffer a severe water shortages as early as 2008.<\/p>\n
The warning came because of shrinking water volumes in the
\nJatiluhur reservoir in Purwakarta, West Java, which supplies 80
\npercent of the raw water for over 700,000 water consumers across
\nthe city.<\/p>\n
Another LIPI scientist, Peter E. Hehanussa, said water
\nshortages also happened because people did not pay attention to
\nwater catchments.<\/p>\n
\"One of the causes of the shortages is the conversion of water
\ncatchments into residential areas,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Peter, who is also an expert in limnology, said the shortages,
\nespecially those occurring in Java and Madura, could be solved by
\npromoting ecohydrology, which combines ecology and hydrology to
\nmanage water resources.<\/p>\n
\"Before ecohydrology was introduced in the 1990s, experts on
\necology and hydrology worked separately, causing incomprehensive
\nsolutions to water shortages,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Gadis said that before ecohydrology was introduced, ecologists
\nfocused on conserving the environment, while hydrologists on
\nwater management.<\/p>\n
\"A couple of years ago, hydrologists solved water problems by
\nrecommending that the government build dams or reroute a river.
\nMeanwhile, what is really important is to manage water
\nresources,\" said Gadis.<\/p>\n
To look for a comprehensive formula to tackle water issues,
\nLIPI is holding a week-long international symposium on
\necohydrology in Bali, which starts on Monday.<\/p>\n
Besides organizing the symposium, LIPI will also host the 13th
\nAsia Pacific Regional Steering Committee Meeting on Ecohydrology,
\nthe 3rd Asia Pacific Training Workshop on Ecohydrology, and
\nScientific Advisory Committee on Ecohydrology Annual Meeting.<\/p>\n
Scientists from 28 countries are expected to attend the series
\nof events.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ecohydrology-may-help-solve-water-crisis-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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