Students learn to protect, preserve water<\/p>\n
Abdul Khalik
\nThe Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
After pouring water taken from Cibubur lake in East Jakarta into
\na plastic container, Tommy Pratama, a second-year student of
\nstate Junior High School (SMP) No. 233 quickly took out equipment
\nto measure its acidity.<\/p>\n
After placing the equipment in the container, Tommy smiled to
\nhis friends, who were watching the activity closely.<\/p>\n
"It was a very useful experience. We learned how to measure
\nthe quality of water. I felt like I was a scientist. It was very
\nfascinating. I even found shrimps in the water sample that I
\ntook," Tommy told The Jakarta Post after the activity.<\/p>\n
He also said that he now knows that water that was deemed
\n"healthy" should have a certain level of acidity and muddiness,
\nand that water in most of Jakarta's rivers and lakes have long
\nbeen polluted.<\/p>\n
Tommy and 39 colleagues from SMP No. 233 in Cibubur, East
\nJakarta were participating on Saturday in a series of events held
\nto mark World Water Monitoring Day which falls on Oct. 12.<\/p>\n
The activities were organized by the Indonesian Drinking Water
\nQuality Monitoring Forum (FORKAMI) and tap water company PT
\nThames Pam Jaya and PT Palyja.<\/p>\n
Aside from measuring the quality of water, the students also
\nwatched a short movie about the importance of preserving and
\nprotecting water from pollution.<\/p>\n
"I think the groundwater in my house is still unpolluted.
\nThat's why I will use it economically, and tell my family to be
\ncareful in using it," said Tommy, who lives with his parents in
\nCibubur.<\/p>\n
Dozens of students from 20 elementary schools in Jakarta,
\njoined a drawing competition on water conservation by Cibubur
\nlake earlier on Saturday.<\/p>\n
TV actress Marshanda, who was also present, said that an early
\nawareness campaign was necessary so that people would take good
\ncare of water resources.<\/p>\n
"I am proud to be here. I think this is very positive as young
\npeople like me need to understand stuff like this to be able to
\nhelp preserve water," she said.<\/p>\n
FORKAMI Chairman Abdullah Muthalib said that as the condition
\nof groundwater in Jakarta continued to deteriorate year by year,
\nthe public at large should take part in maintaining, if not
\nimproving, the quality of water.<\/p>\n
"Because of the poor condition of water nowadays, it is very
\nexpensive to bring it back to a good condition. That's why we
\nneed the participation of all quarters in society, including
\nchildren," he said.<\/p>\n
FORKAMI member Job Supangkat said that the results of that
\nday's water quality measurement would be combined with all other
\nmeasurements across the world and would be announced early in
\nFebruary next year.<\/p>\n
"This is an annual event. We hope next year more and more
\norganizations and companies take part in educating young people
\nand children to raise their awareness of the need to conserve
\nwater. In fact, we will conduct similar events for high school
\nstudents," he said.<\/p>\n
Public relations manager of PT Thames Pam Jaya Devy A. Yheane
\nsaid that her company would continue to support efforts to help
\nconserve water in the future.<\/p>\n
"We have participated in these kind of events since last year.
\nWe have pledged to support similar events next year," she told
\nthe Post.<\/p>\n
There 13 rivers that runs through Jakarta. According to recent
\nstudies conducted by several institutions, including the National
\nPolice and the Jakarta Environmental Agency, all the rivers are
\nhighly polluted with heavy metals.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/students-learn-to-protect-preserve-water-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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