Activists urge residents to stop using groundwater to prevent Jakarta from "sinking"
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Activists from various communities are urging the capital’s residents to stop using groundwater as an effort to prevent further land subsidence that could lead to Jakarta “sinking”.
“The phenomenon of land subsidence in Jakarta is now at a worrying level. The massive use of groundwater, especially by high-rise buildings, is accused of being the main factor accelerating the potential for Jakarta to ‘sink’,” said Anwar Sjani, Chairman of the Warga Jaga Jakarta Community, in Jakarta on Friday.
He highlighted that many high-rise buildings, hotels, and apartments in Jakarta are secretly exploiting groundwater to cut operational costs.
According to Anwar, many tall buildings already have access to piped water, but in practice, they still use groundwater.
“This greatly affects the water discharge, ultimately causing the land surface to subside,” he said.
He urged the government not only to issue policies through Jakarta Provincial Regulation Number 5 of 2026 on Energy and Water Efficiency in Buildings, but also to impose strict sanctions on building managers.
“But be bold in giving strict sanctions up to sealing buildings for violators,” he said.
Meanwhile, Jakarta community figure Sumitro stated that the quality of Jakarta’s groundwater is not fit for consumption. Nearly 95 percent of groundwater in the Jakarta area, especially in North and West Jakarta, is no longer fit for consumption even after being boiled.
He called for public awareness of Jakarta’s contaminated groundwater and emphasised not sacrificing long-term health for mere savings.
“We suggest that the government form a special task force to audit water usage in commercial sites and drinking water companies to ensure there is no illegal exploitation,” he said.
Previously, PAM Jaya targeted 100 percent access to clean water services across the DKI Jakarta area by 2029, thus requiring acceleration in realising that project.
“Accelerating piped water services is a strategic step to address environmental challenges and the needs of Jakarta’s residents,” said Anugrah Esa, Director of Strategy and Business at PAM JAYA, in Jakarta on Wednesday.
He affirmed that PAM Jaya’s target is to ensure all Jakarta residents have access to decent piped water by 2029.
This acceleration, he said, is not only related to public services but also supports achieving global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targets or sustainable development programmes, particularly access to clean water and sanitation.
In addition, the use of piped water is expected to curb groundwater exploitation, which has so far been the main cause of land subsidence in Jakarta.
He explained that to achieve the 2029 target, PAM Jaya is preparing several strategic steps, including expanding service coverage to reach all areas of Jakarta. Then adding around two million new customers and carrying out gradual revitalisation of the pipe network.