Seawater intrusion worsens drinking water quality

Seawater intrusion worsens drinking water quality

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Seawater intrusion has caused the salinization of groundwater
as far as the National Monument (Monas) in Central Jakarta and is
starting to adversely affect the quality of the city's drinking
water, said Minister of Resettlement and Regional Infrastructure
Soenarno on Wednesday.

"With seawater intrusion already reaching Monas, it means our
drinking water is being polluted," he said after officially
opening an exhibition to mark World Water Day.

Salinization has meant the land is fast losing its ability to
absorb water. The consequence is more flooding during the rainy
season and more surface runoff after heavy downpours.

It has been a long-running issue in the city, exacerbated by
the fact that many residents dig their own artesian wells at
home. The existence of these wells is one of the factors that has
triggered the spread of salinized groundwater.

Another contributing factor has been the construction of
housing estates, apartments, offices, factories and business
centers in the city's northern districts.

Soenarno said the government had begun to comprehensively
manage both the groundwater and surface water.

So far, groundwater has been managed by the Ministry of Energy
and Mineral Resources, while surface water has been handled by
the Ministry of Resettlement and Regional Infrastructure and
other institutions.

"Both groundwater and surface water urgently need to be
managed comprehensively so that the quality of drinking water can
be improved and the water supply can be planned ahead better," he
was quoted as saying by Antara.

Soenarno said the city's water condition had also worsened
with the diminishing water supply. The city's water supply only
amounts to 91 cubic meters per second, far from its necessary
supply of 269 cubic meters per second. That means the city still
needs an additional supply of 178 cubic meters per second.

Water shortages have also hit other parts of the archipelago
during the dry season, such as East Nusa Tenggara, as well as
small islands including Nias island in North Sumatra.

"Actually, Indonesia has a water surplus but there are areas
prone to drought that need our attention and help," he said.