Residents Complain About Sewage Pump at Taman Jangkar Ampenan

The presence of a sewage pump at Taman Jangkar in Ampenan, Mataram City, has drawn criticism from local residents. They fear the sewage pump will emit a pungent smell and disrupt their daily activities. “We are afraid that if the smell comes out, it will definitely be overpowering. We also only just found out that there would be a sewage pump here,” said an Ampenan resident on Wednesday (24/6/2026).

Responding to the complaints, Head of Mataram City’s Public Works and Spatial Planning Agency (PUPR), Lale Widiahning, explained that the sewage pump located at Taman Jangkar Ampenan is merely a transit point. Specifically, it is a conduit for moving water. The construction of the sewage pump aims to help suction water and push it back following the principle of gravity, rather than collecting water at the site. “The pump house is not for storage; it is only for suctioning and flushing it back according to gravity,” Lale said when confirmed on Wednesday.

Lale dismissed concerns that the pump house would ruin the area’s aesthetics. According to her, the pump house will be designed to blend in with the existing park and buildings, so it will not appear conspicuous or give a slum-like impression. “It will not be visible that it is a pump house,” she clarified.

Lale assured that any damage caused by the project would be repaired and restored to its original condition, whether it affects city roads, provincial roads, or national roads traversed by the sewage pipeline. “Road infrastructure or anything else that suffers damage as a result of this project will be replaced to match the existing condition,” Lale stated.

For context, the project is part of a communal main Wastewater Treatment Plant (IPAL) network connection programme. This programme is supported by the World Bank through the central government, with a budget of approximately Rp 1.3 trillion, and is targeted for completion between mid-2025 and 2026.