Perum Jasa Tirta II (PJT II) has commenced Phase II of its Weather\nModification Operation (OMC) as part of mitigation efforts to face the\nimpacts of the dry season and maintain water availability in the Citarum\nRiver Basin (DAS). The President Director of Perum Jasa Tirta II, Imam\nSantoso, stated that the implementation of Phase II, which began on 18\nSeptember 2026, at Husein Sastranegara Airbase, is a follow-up to the\ncoordination meeting led by the Director General of Water Resources on 9\nSeptember 2026.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis activity is planned to take place from 18-22 September 2026,\nwith daily execution adjusted based on monitoring results of cloud\nconditions and potential rain clouds in the West Java region, based on\ninformation from BMKG,\u201d Imam said in a written statement in Jakarta on\nSaturday (19\/9\/2026).<\/p>\n
Imam explained that Phase II of the OMC is being carried out to\noptimise available rain cloud potential. He hopes this will increase\nrainfall in catchment areas and provide additional inflow for the\nCitarum Cascade Reservoirs, which consist of Saguling, Cirata, and\nJatiluhur.<\/p>\n
Imam noted that for Perum Jasa Tirta II, the Weather Modification\nOperation is part of a rapid response as the dry season continues.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis OMC is vital to maintain the resilience of water reserves in\nthe Citarum River Basin so that water services for the community,\nagricultural sector, industry, and energy needs can continue to operate\noptimally amidst dry season conditions,\u201d said Imam.<\/p>\n
Based on BMKG analysis for the first ten-day period of September\n202<0xC2>6, most parts of Indonesia are still experiencing low\nrainfall, below normal levels. BMKG also noted a very strong El Ni\u00f1o\nintensity and predicts that Java Island may still experience low\nrainfall during the second and third ten-day periods of September\n2026.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese conditions must be anticipated as they can impact the\nreduction of river flow and inflow to reservoirs,\u201d Imam continued.<\/p>\n
Imam stated that the impact of the dry season is also visible in the\ncondition of the Jatiluhur Reservoir. As of 18 September 2026, at 07:00\nWIB, the water level was recorded at approximately +94.32 metres above\nsea level (masl). However, this condition remains above the lower\noperational limit of the Jatiluhur Reservoir, which is +87.50 masl.\nBased on reservoir management calculations, water availability is still\nprojected to support requirements until the end of 2026.<\/p>\n
In addition to the OMC, Imam added that PJT II is conducting\nreservoir operation adjustments, regular water balance monitoring, water\ndistribution management, and coordination with stakeholders to maintain\nservices for irrigation, public and industrial raw water, and to support\npower generation.<\/p>\n
The Director of Operations and Maintenance of Perum Jasa Tirta II,\nAnton Mardiyono, said that the Weather Modification Operation provides a\npositive impact in supporting efforts to maintain water availability,\nparticularly through the optimisation of rainfall potential in catchment\nareas. Anton noted the additional rainfall generated.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe hope is that it can help maintain water inflow into the\nreservoirs and maintain storage conditions, so that the needs for raw\nwater, irrigation, and other water resource services can still be met\nduring the dry period,\u201d said Anton.<\/p>\n
Anton stated that this activity is also part of the company\u2019s\ncommitment to integrated, adaptive, and sustainable water resource\nmanagement through collaboration with the government and all\nstakeholders. Anton added that PJT II continues to monitor weather\ndevelopments, hydrological conditions, water levels, inflow, and\nreservoir outflow regularly as a basis for subsequent operational\ndecision-making.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith measured management, PJT II strives to ensure that available\nwater can be utilised effectively and equitably to support water, food,\nand energy security,\u201d said Anton.<\/p>\n
In its implementation, PJT II is coordinating with the Ministry of\nPublic Works through the Directorate General of Water Resources and BBWS\nCitarum, BMKG, cascade reservoir managers, the Indonesian Air Force, PT\nPLN Nusantara Power, PT PLN Indonesia Power, and PT Rekayasa Atmosphere\nIndonesia as the cloud seeding executor.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/weather-modification-operation-conducted-to-maintain-citarum-water-availability-1789804480", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }