Bappenas highlights regions facing potential water crisis

Jakarta — Indonesia’s Ministry of National Development Planning (Bappenas) has highlighted several regions facing the potential of a water crisis, particularly on Java Island.

“Nationally, Indonesia’s water resources are relatively adequate on average, but when examined by island and region, Java Island has significant water shortages,” stated Dadang Jainal Mutaqin, Director of Forestry and Water Resource Conservation at Bappenas, during the dissemination of the Indonesia Environmental Outlook 2026 by the KEHATI Foundation in Jakarta on Friday.

Specific areas identified with water availability challenges include Jakarta, East Java, and several regions in West Java. Outside Java, areas around Medan and Makassar also face similar issues.

According to World Bank data from 2021, Indonesia’s water availability potential reaches 3.9 billion cubic metres per year. Agriculture and irrigation account for 80 per cent of national water use.

Several challenges related to water resources in the country have also been identified. Water demand is projected to increase by 31 per cent by 2045 compared to 2015, driven by population growth and a four-fold increase in industrial water demand.

Additionally, the country faces threats of land subsidence from groundwater extraction and 12.7 million hectares of critical land.

Mutaqin noted that water resource conservation has become a government priority, beginning with pollution control measures and water quality monitoring through to the protection and preservation of water sources.

“Regarding water self-sufficiency, this is a watershed conservation programme that includes forest and land rehabilitation, irrigation system improvements, multifunctional dam construction, and other measures,” he explained.