Geological Agency Helps Cianjur Residents To Get Clean Water, DRIVE Wells But Maximum Depth 50 Meters

JAKARTA - The Geological Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) limits the depth of groundwater well drilling in a natural disaster area to a maximum of 50 meters.

Head of the Center for Groundwater and Environmental Management of the Geological Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Rita Susilawati, said that her party is currently drilling groundwater wells to help earthquake survivors in Cianjur Regency, West Java, to get clean water.

"We are drilling up to a maximum of 50 meters (deep) because the goal is to immediately get out of the water," he said in a discussion entitled 'Information on Geological Disasters and Groundwater Licensing' which was monitored through the Geological Agency's Instagram account in Jakarta, Monday 5 December.

Rita menjelaskan Badan Geologi sudah lama membantu permasalahan pengungsi akibat gempa bumi dan gunung menggeluar dengan melakukan donasi pemborasi air tanah agar bisa dimanfaatkan oleh para pengungsi.

According to him, earthquakes sometimes damage well structures and shift wells to no water, so groundwater well drilling is an effective step to get clean water at the disaster site.

In assisting the recovery of the earthquake in Cianjur Regency, West Java, the Geological Agency together with several companies engaged in the mineral and coal business made donations in the form of groundwater drilling at 17 locations.

"Now the water is at a depth of 40 meters, 28 meters, and we have a maximum limit of 50 meters," Rita said, quoted by Antara.

He further said that if the depth is more than 50 meters and has not yet found a spring, the drilling point will be moved to another location.

Based on the location mapping carried out by the Geological Agency, the most severe damage caused by the earthquake shock occurred in an area compiled by Mount Gede's breks and lahar deposits.

Morphologically, areas that were damaged in general were areas with turbulent hilly morphology.

In Cugenang District, the intensity reached VII-VIII Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI), marked by massive damage to buildings, especially in Gasol and Sarampad villages, and Cugenang.

In addition to building damage, earthquake shocks also triggered ground movement. The ground movement is in an area compiled by old volcanic products (Qvot) that have experienced weathering.