Ciujung River in Serang Suspected Polluted, Turns Black and Emits Pungent Odour

The Ciujung River in Serang Regency, Banten, is suspected of being polluted. The water has turned black and is emitting a pungent odour.

Observed on Monday (15/6/2026), the water of the Ciujung River in Kampung Jongjing, Tirtayasa, Serang Regency, was black. Oil was visible on the surface of the river flow. Additionally, an unpleasant smell was noticeable along the riverbank.

A local resident, Wiwi, said the river water has been black for five days. She feels uncomfortable with the smell coming from the Ciujung River. “It has been five days now. The smell is pungent,” Wiwi said.

Besides being disturbed by the odour, Wiwi is also worried that the polluted water could kill the rice in her paddy fields. “Everyone who passes by smells it. And if we want to use a diesel pump to draw water, we cannot. With water like this, it is murky. It cannot be used for the rice fields, Sir. The rice could die,” she said.

Wiwi noted that this is not the first such incident this year. According to her, the Ciujung River water had also turned black and smelly several years prior. “I have seen this three times now, every two years. I do not really know why, they say it is waste,” Wiwi stated.

When contacted separately, the Cidanau-Ciujung-Cidurian River Basin Centre (BBWSC3) admitted it had not yet received information about the suspected river pollution. After viewing photos sent to him, BBWSC3 Head Dedy Yudha said there were indications of pollution. “It appears to be polluted,” Dedy said.

Meanwhile, Head of the Banten Provincial Environmental Agency, Wawan Gunawan, said his office would check the condition of the Ciujung River. “The environmental law enforcement unit will go down later,” he asserted.