Wastewater Polluting Sanur Beach Traced to Food Waste from MSMEs
Deep black wastewater flowing rapidly from drains towards Segara Ayu Beach in Sanur Kaja Village, Denpasar, has been confirmed to be food waste from micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the surrounding area. This conclusion follows an inspection by the Denpasar City Public Works and Spatial Planning Office (PUPR) alongside a joint team.
“After our inspection, it is confirmed that some of the waste originates from MSMEs. However, to be certain, we are awaiting the laboratory results from the samples taken earlier,” said the Head of Natural Resources at the Denpend Denpasar PUPR, Ketut Ngurah Artha Jaya, on Monday afternoon.
In addition to the PUPR, the inspection involved teams from the Ministry of Environment, the Bali Regional Police, Denpasar Civil Service Police (Satpol PP), the Bali Marine Office, and local village officials, all of whom participated in investigating the wastewater contaminating the sea.
The inspection involved examining culverts, using excavators to open box culverts that discharge water into the sea, and spraying the ends of the drainage systems leading to the ocean.
It was revealed that the drainage system is actually intended for rainwater runoff. However, the drains were found to contain food waste from small stalls located near Segara Ayu Beach.
“The Sanur Traditional Village authorities will undertake efforts to regulate and provide guidance to the MSMEs that are discharging their waste into the drains,” Ngurah Artha stated via telephone.
He added, “The Denpasar Sewerage Development Project (DSDP) is also working to connect business owners to the proper system to ensure they no longer discharge water into the drainage channels.”
Meanwhile, I Gusti Rai Ari Temaja, also known as Gung Nik, an environmental activist from the Bali Environmental Working Group, expressed disappointment that MSME operators are disposing of business waste into drains not intended for such use.
“Earlier, towards the western side of the stalls, we checked and found no water, it was dry. But as we passed the stalls, there was water mixed with waste. When questioned, the MSME operators admitted to it,” he explained.
Regarding the extent of the contamination in the drainage system flowing towards the sea, he noted that everyone must wait for the results from the Bali Environmental Laboratory UPTD, which previously collected water samples.
“This will serve as a basis for consideration. We will conduct guidance, and the relevant authorities will summon those involved to ensure they install septic tanks or connect to the DSDP. We are coordinating with the relevant parties to ensure that waste is no longer discharged into the drains,” he concluded.