Most Households Don't Need Groundwater Permits, ESDM: Don't Worry

Groundwater illustration (Photo: dock. KPUPR)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) through the Acting Head of the Geological Agency Muhammad Wafid emphasized that the public does not need to worry about the rules for permits to use ground water.

The reason is, not all households need permission to utilize ground water. Previously, in order to ensure that groundwater can be utilized sustainably and prevent damage to ground water, the Government through the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources issued Decree of the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Number 291.01/MEM.G/2023 concerning the Standards for Implementing Approval for Groundwater Use.

In this regulation, it is stated that the people (households) who are required to be licensed are households with groundwater usage >100 m3 per month, while households using GBP 100 m3 ground water per month do not require a permit.

"Don't worry, most households in Indonesia do not require permission (use of ground water), because the average use is only 20-30 m3 per month, far below 100 cubic meters per month," said Wafid, quoted Monday, November 6.

He said 100m3 or 100,000 liters was a very large amount.

"100 m3 is equivalent to 200 times filling water reservoirs with a volume of 500 liters or the equivalent of an elimination of 5,000 gallons of 20 liters of volume," said Wafid.

Wafid said that the arrangement for utilizing large-capacity ground water was not new.

"The rules related to the use of ground water with large discharges have long been determined, one of which is regulated in the previous Water Resources Act (Law Number 7 of 2004)," said Wafid.

This arrangement is carried out in order to overcome the impact of excessive groundwater exploitation which can result in a decrease in the amount of groundwater reserves, causing other impacts on the environment, such as land subsidence and sea water intrusion.

Several regions in Indonesia have experienced serious water damage, such as in big cities in Java. To repair the damage, it is necessary to carry out conservation efforts and management of sustainable groundwater resources, reduce excessive exploitation, and develop other alternative clean water sources.