ITB Expert: Cimahi Threatened by Clean Water Crisis Due to Land Exploitation

Head of the Geodesy Laboratory of the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), Heri Andreas, reminded that the threat of a clean water crisis in the city of Cimahi is becoming more real due to the massive exploitation of groundwater that takes place in the middle of the prediction of a longer dry season this year.

"We didn't realize that we had exploited groundwater, moreover, the evidence was right in front of our eyes. Groundwater suddenly dries up, it gets worse during droughts. We must be worried, the prediction is that by 2050 extreme drought will occur," he said as reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, June 17.

According to him, the Cimahi Selatan District area is the most vulnerable area to experience drought because a number of villages routinely experience difficulties in obtaining clean water during the dry season.

Kelurahan Utama, Melong, and Leuwigajah are the most affected areas so that residents in the area even have to buy clean water to meet their daily needs.

"Outside the dry season, people in South Cimahi are dry. They have to buy water, in the dry season it is also routinely supplied with clean water tanks," he said.

He said that the exploitation of groundwater by various parties over the years had caused water reserves to continue to decline in the Greater Bandung area.

Based on the study of the Center for Soil and Geological Environment Management (PATGL) of the Geological Agency, the decline in groundwater levels in the Greater Bandung area reached around 60 meters to 100 meters.

Heri explained that the aquifer or water storage layer at a depth of 50 to 100 meters has been damaged, while the deeper layer has begun to be affected by exploitation.

"Then it will be drilled again to a depth of 200 meters, it will be damaged again because it is looking for water at a deeper point. If this condition continues, it will cause a water crisis in 2050," he said.

Meanwhile, the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of Cimahi City recorded at least 312 RW potentially experiencing drought based on disaster data and coordination related to the prediction of the peak of the dry season starting in August.

According to the Head of the Cimahi City BPBD, Fithriandy Kurniawan, the South Cimahi area is still the area with the most severe drought impact compared to other areas.

"The worst drought we recorded was two years ago. Then the worst was in the south, indeed because residents rely on PDAM water and some groundwater," he said.

As a precautionary measure, BPBD has prepared a scheme for distributing clean water through coordination with the Cimahi City Housing and Residential Area Service and Perumda Tirta Raharja if there are reports of a lack of clean water from the community.

"There will be operations according to conditions, for example if there are reports of a lack of clean water, we will coordinate with related parties such as DPKP to supply clean water," he said.