East Flood Canal Flows Green Like Matcha; Here is the Cause
The flow of the East Flood Canal (KBT) or East Flood Canal (BKT) has gone viral following videos showing its water turning green, much like a matcha drink. The cause has now been identified.
Observations at the East Canal Inspection Road, Cilincing, North Jakarta, on Friday (18/09/2026), showed greenish water in the East Flood Canal. Upon closer inspection, the green colour originates from plants floating on the water’s surface.
Personnel and heavy machinery have been deployed to clear the vegetation from the water. The plants removed from the canal can be seen collected along the canal banks.
Syarif Hidayatulloh (36), the Head of the Waste Management Team at the BKT Marunda River Basin, stated that the plants are water hyacinth. He noted that water hyacinth frequently appears during the dry season.
“The emergence of this water hyacinth is due to the prolonged drought, which causes the water flow to not run as strongly. This results in the formation of water hyacinth from the connecting channels and flows entering the BKT,” said Syarif.
He added that the amount of water hyacinth visible this year is significant because the drought has lasted quite a long time, noting that such conditions were not present in 2024 or 2025.
“This water hyacinth occurs when there is a long drought like we have now. In previous years, such as 2025 and 2024, it did not happen,” he said.
The phenomenon of the water hyacinth appearing has lasted for about a week, with the peak occurrence recorded on Thursday (17/09).
He mentioned that the amount of water hyacinth on the surface has decreased today. Syarif noted that the plants are not causing any blockages in the water flow.
“In terms of impact, there is likely no blockage of water; it is primarily just the colour, as the water surface is covered,” he said.
Officers are continuing to clean the water hyacinth. Barriers have been placed in the middle of the river to prevent the plants from being carried away by the current. The trapped plants are then collected using nets and heavy machinery.
“For the water hyacinth, what we are doing currently is installing barriers, then conducting sweeps to collect them on the banks,” Syarif explained.
Syarif stated that the appearance of the water hyacinth is a natural phenomenon and that local residents are already aware of the situation.
“That is just how it is. The general response from the community living here is that they are used to it, as this water hyacinth is a natural occurrence. It is not something we caused intentionally,” he concluded.