Firms asked to build water catchment systems

Firms asked to build water catchment systems

Tangerang administration has asked all industrial firms to
establish water catchments in their factory compounds in an
effort to anticipate water shortages during the dry season and
floods during the rainy season.

Mayor Wahidin Halim said earlier this week that the water
catchment system would help preserve the environment in the
municipality.

"Industrial firms have used groundwater on a large scale every
single day. In the near future, we will face a water crisis," he
said. "The water catchments will help absorb rainwater and will
eventually help overcome flooding, which hits most parts of the
municipality every year."

Meanwhile, head of the Tangerang Environmental Agency M. Akip
said the administration had introduced the water catchment system
in 2002.

"Based on our recent surveys, only a few firms have complied
with our call to build water catchments. The administration will
likely draft a bylaw that stipulates all industrial firms must
comply," he said.

"Besides, air pollution from the increasing number of vehicles
and from factories has affected the air quality of Tangerang
municipality. Expanding green areas is an urgent need," he added.

The agency called on all firms, offices and community members
to plant more trees in their areas.

Akip said environmental preservation was not merely the
administration's responsibility but that of community members and
industrial firms.

The administration recently planted around 150,000 trees in
conjunction with World Environment Day on June 5.

"The administration's efforts to preserve the environment will
not be effective if the residents fail to maintain green areas,"
Akip said. -- JP