Handling of Water Hyacinth in Pluit Reservoir to be Completed Soon

The Waste Handling Unit (UPS) of the Jakarta Water Body Agency has assured that the handling of water hyacinth in Pluit Reservoir, North Jakarta, will soon be completed, on Friday. “Only a few places are still inundated with that aquatic plant,” said UPS Monitor of the Jakarta Water Body Agency, Seno Rivaldi, in Jakarta on Thursday. He stated that the joint team had begun handling the water hyacinth on Tuesday (31/3). Then today, only a few points remain where the plant is still present and are being cleaned. “We are waiting for the water to rise because the location is shallow; our boats cannot enter. We are concerned they might run aground,” he said. Seno mentioned that 30 UPS personnel from the Jakarta Water Body Agency were deployed with equipment such as ADPE boats, motorised boats, amphibious excavators, With Arperter 800 boats, and Dreger Phonton for handling the water hyacinth. He added that water hyacinth often appears in Pluit Reservoir because it is an aquatic plant that grows easily. Moreover, Pluit Reservoir is a water catchment from households. Especially with weather that sometimes alternates between rain and heat, causing the plant to grow quickly. “In one day, this plant can grow two to three times,” said Seno.