BRIN reminds PDAM to update filtration technology to prevent water contaminants

Jakarta (ANTARA) - A researcher from the Centre for Limnological Research and Water Resources at the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Ignasius Sutapa, has reminded all Regional Drinking Water Companies (PDAM) to update their filtration technology to prevent new contaminants in the water they produce.

In an online discussion held in Jakarta on Tuesday, Ignas explained that the types of pollution in water sources are now increasingly varied. They are no longer just ordinary organic waste, but also include new chemicals, antibiotics, and microplastics carried by river flows.

“Because if there is a new source of contaminants, conventional equipment cannot handle it (filtration), for example, microplastics and the like, they will definitely pass through,” he said.

Ignas assessed that conventional drinking water treatment systems, starting from coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, to standard sand filtration, are no longer sufficient to counter the load of these microscopic pollutants.

He encouraged PDAMs to begin integrating advanced filtration systems, such as nanofiltration or reverse osmosis, to adapt to the dynamics of raw water quality.

“So, how the raw water management related to water resource management is not only very determining for the price, but also for the quality that will be produced,” he stated.

The challenge of providing clean water free from contaminants is further exacerbated by the phenomenon of climate change, he continued. During extreme rainy seasons, he said, high sedimentation often overwhelms PDAM treatment installations in processing raw water.

Ultimately, Ignas emphasised that improving water installation management must go hand in hand with innovation research and cross-sector education, so that the public also proactively maintains the cleanliness of inland waters from upstream to downstream.