Jakarta’s Breakthroughs to Achieve Clean Water Service Targets

The Jakarta City Hall-DPRD Journalists Coordinator once again held a Balkoters Talk on Wednesday (9/1).

Around 81 percent of Jakarta's raw water sources are still from the Jatiluhur Reservoir, but only 6 percent from rivers in Jakarta

In the discussion, various challenges and breakthroughs were revealed in the effort to realize clean water services according to the discussion theme, namely the Equitable Service of Drinking Water in Jakarta.

PAM Jaya Director, Priyanto Bambang Hernowo explained, the state was obliged to provide clean water services for the people. Thereby, the Jakarta drinking water supply system (SPAM) should keep being developed.

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"Around 81 percent of Jakarta's raw water sources are still from the Jatiluhur Reservoir, but only 6 percent from rivers in Jakarta. In fact, Jakarta has 13 rivers and reservoirs. Of 13 rivers, additional treatment must be given," he said.

According to him, Jakarta still had to work hard to meet the needs of clean water considering the service coverage has not yet reached 80 percent as mandated by the applicable regulations. The Home Ministry revealed, if its coverage had not reached 80 percent, the profits had to be used to achieve the coverage target.

"Raw water flowing to Jakarta is 27,725 liters per second. We still lack 13,000 liters per second. This is a projection until 2030. What will be done to reach 100 percent," he furthered.

He was continuously pursuing the raw water shortage of 13,000 liters per second. In 2024, it was projected that 7,200 liters per second of raw water would be added. That was why, it would cost money to develop the pipeline through the construction of communal SPAMs.

Aside that, he would focus on areas that lack raw water. In Thousand Islands for instance, where there were very few surface water sources. There were several islands that take groundwater. It was dangerous thus the Sea Water Reverse Osmosis (SWRO) was built in 2019. 9 out of 11 islands had been served by a water supply system that utilizes sea water. There were challenges, such as land disputes that hinder efforts to provide direct water pipe connections for residents living on land with disputed status and affordability of water tariffs.

"There are some breakthrough, such as Gubernatorial Regulation number 16/2020 that opens the possibility of making special direct connections for residents living on disputed lands. It doesn't mean acknowledging the disputed land, but to meet the residents' water needs. SWRO, water stalls are also built," he stated.