Construction of 86 Post-Flood Sumur Bor in Sumatra Targeted to be Completed Before Ramadan 2026

JAKARTA - Minister of Public Works (PU) Dody Hanggodo targets the construction of a total of 86 boreholes in areas affected by flash floods in Sumatra to be completed before Ramadan 2026.

In detail, the construction of boreholes was carried out in Aceh Province with 67 units, West Sumatra Province 19 units, while North Sumatra was focused on supporting existing drinking water systems.

Dody explained that the location of the boreholes was spread in various strategic points affected by flash floods, including mosques, markets, health centers, hospitals, offices, schools, and residential areas.

He said, the boreholes that were built consisted of deep wells and shallow wells.

Deep wells mean wells with a depth of more than 80 meters and premium water quality can be drunk.

Meanwhile, shallow wells with water quality below drinking water, but can be used for bathing and washing.

In fact, it is usually used for post-disaster mud cleaning.

"Of the total 86 boreholes, currently about 15 percent of deep water boreholes have been completed, while shallow boreholes have reached about 53 percent progress," said Dody, quoted from a written statement, Thursday, January 29.

It is known that the deep water boreholes are built with an average depth of about 100 meters and a diameter of more than four inches.

The well is designed to take groundwater from confined and semi-confined aquifers through technical drilling methods equipped with logging and pumping tests, with a water discharge of more than two liters per second.

To support water quality and distribution, each borewell is equipped with a submersible pump, an electrical power house, a reservoir or tower with a capacity of more than 1,000 liters and a general hydrant.

The determination of the depth of the well is carried out based on a geoelectrical survey to ensure the sustainability and quality of the water source produced.

The water quality standard of the boreholes meets the main parameters, including a pH of around 7.1, iron levels below 1 mg/l and turbidity levels below 1,000 mg/l.

"With these standards, raw water is produced safely to support the basic needs of the community and the operation of public service facilities during the recovery period," he said.

Dody also instructed the Directorate General of Water Resources and the Directorate General of Construction to target the completion of the boreholes before Ramadan.

"The target is before Ramadan, we can finish these boreholes," he said.

The construction of the boreholes is also a supporting system so that the 176 units of the Drinking Water Supply System (SPAM) can return to optimal functioning.

The PU Ministry is committed to continuing to accelerate the development of clean water infrastructure as part of the build back better efforts after the recent floods in the Sumatra region.