Depok City Government Completes 300 Drainage Rehabilitation Projects for Flood Mitigation

The Depok City Government in West Java is moving quickly to mitigate the risk of hydrometeorological disasters. To date, 300 out of a total of 454 drainage rehabilitation and improvement projects across various areas of Depok City have been completed.

“A total of 300 projects have been completed, this is an extraordinary achievement,” said Bahtiar Ardiansyah, Head of the Water Resources Development and Rehabilitation Section at the Depok City Public Works and Spatial Planning Agency (Dinas PUPR), on Thursday (2/7).

Bahtiar stated that the completion of 300 drainage projects has a significant impact on the environment because it directly controls surface water volume. “Hopefully, there will be no more land and infrastructure damage, and the environment will also be free from flooding,” he said.

According to him, the main purpose of drainage is to prevent puddles, minimise the risk of flooding, prevent soil erosion, and maintain a clean and healthy environmental sanitation. In addition, this infrastructure functions as a disposal system to channel and control excess surface water, such as rainwater or liquid waste, to the nearest water bodies, whether rivers or lakes.

Sedimentation and Waste

So far, the shallowing of water channels due to sedimentation has often reduced drainage capacity, causing water to overflow easily and flood residential areas. “Overcoming this problem requires infrastructure improvements and environmental engineering to restore function,” he explained.

Bahtiar elaborated that flooding in Depok City settlements is generally caused by problematic drainage systems. Contributing factors include blockages from rubbish, sedimentation, and channel capacities that are too small. The blockages from waste and sediment prevent rainwater from flowing smoothly, causing it to overflow onto roads and into residents’ homes.

“So, with these drainage improvements, it is hoped that flood-prone areas will no longer be affected because repairs have been made,” he said.

Although drainage improvements are one of the most effective structural solutions for mitigating local flooding caused by rainwater overflow, Bahtiar stressed that residential areas will only be truly free from flooding if the repairs are followed by routine maintenance and comprehensive environmental management. “We encourage community involvement not to litter into waterways. We also invite the community to clean channels of mud sediment and waste.”

A Classic Problem

Depok Mayor Supian Suri expressed his appreciation and praise for the dedication and innovation shown by his staff in tackling this classic urban problem. “I appreciate the performance of the Public Works and Spatial Planning Agency, which actively goes into the field to resolve flooding issues, such as rehabilitating and repairing drainage systems and cleaning waste deposits in 13 tributaries in Depok City,” he concluded.