Jakarta's SPAM Regional Regulation Aims to Control Groundwater Usage

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung stated that the Draft Regional Regulation (Raperda) on the Management of the Drinking Water Supply System (SPAM) is an effort by the government to control groundwater usage.

“The direction of this regional regulation policy is to gradually reduce dependence on groundwater and encourage the transition to piped water services,” said Pramono in Jakarta on Monday.

According to him, under the SPAM Raperda, owners of houses or buildings that have access to piped water will be required to use it.

He described the policy as part of efforts to suppress groundwater exploitation, control land subsidence, and maintain environmental sustainability.

“This is also in line with the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government’s policy on implementing Groundwater-Free Zones in areas supported by piped networks, which will be expanded gradually,” he stated.

Nationally, he added, the control of groundwater utilisation has been emphasised, with instruments for control, guidance, and supervision to ensure that groundwater use is orderly, measured, and sustainable.

Nevertheless, Pramono agreed with the views of several factions in the DKI Jakarta DPRD that the implementation of this obligation must be carried out gradually, fairly, and based on service readiness.

“Therefore, the enforcement of groundwater usage regulations must be preceded by the availability of piped networks that meet service standards, the implementation of socialisation, and field verification,” he said.

At the DPRD DKI Plenary Session with the agenda of reading the General Views of Political Party Factions, several factions highlighted the massive use of groundwater, emphasising the need for strict regulations on groundwater-free zones.