The Geological Agency Of Energy And Mineral Resources Affirms Permits For The Use Of Groundwater Not To Restrict The Use Of Water

Acting Head (Plt.) Head of the Geological Agency Muhammad Wafid. (Photo: Maria Trisnawati/VOI)

The Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) recently signed a regulation regarding groundwater licensing as stated in the Decree of the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources of the Republic of Indonesia Number: 291.k/GL.01/MEM.G/2023 concerning the Standards for Implementing Approval for Groundwater Use on September 14, 2023.

Acting Head (Plt.) Head of the Geological Agency Muhammad Wafid said the regulation was not issued to limit the use of groundwater for the community but to manage groundwater basins, especially the aquifer as well as possible.

"The point is not to limit the use for the community, but we manage the groundwater basin, especially the aquifer that is there as well as possible so that everyone can use it, so that everything can be served," Wafid told the media quoted on Saturday, October 28.

For information, the aquifer is an inner layer of the soil where the ground water is stored. The regulation states that a request for approval for the use of ground water is carried out for daily basic needs if the use of groundwater is at least 100 cubic meters per month per head of the family or is used in groups with the provisions of more than 100 cubic meters per month per group.

Not only that, this application is also made for people's farming outside the existing irrigation system.

In addition to fulfilling the basic daily and agricultural needs of the people, permits are also needed for tourism or water sports activities that are managed for the public interest or not business activities, utilization of groundwater for research needs, for city parks that are free of charge, houses of worship, public facilities, assistance for drilling wells with rice from the government, private or individual and use of groundwater for government agencies.

The implementation of the approval for the use of ground water was carried out by the head of the Geological Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources. Furthermore, the Head of the Geological Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources reported the results of the approval of the use of ground water to the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources every year or at any time if needed.