Karian Dam In Banten Adds Drinking Water Supply To Jakarta, Here's PUPR's Explanation

Photo of the Karian Dam air in Lebak Regency, Banten. (Photo: Doc. ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) said the presence of the Karian Dam in Lebak Regency, Banten, would significantly increase the supply of drinking water for the Jakarta area and its surroundings.

"(The Karian Dam) will be a significant addition to the supply of drinking water for western Jakarta, including South Tangerang, Serpong, and the areas around Tangerang," said PUPR Ministry Spokesperson Endra S Atmawidjaja when met in the GBK area. Jakarta, quoted Monday, December 4.

The PUPR Ministry is currently building a network to distribute raw water from the Karian Dam to the Jakarta area and its surroundings.

The construction of the Karian Dam is also one of the PUPR Ministry's programs to achieve the target so that the Jabodetabek community no longer uses groundwater.

This is because the land subsidence in the area is fairly fast, especially in the DKI Jakarta area.

"Our target is that by 2030 there will be no more people using groundwater, because the use of groundwater has caused a decrease in Jakarta's groundwater level. Thus, the Ministry of PUPR must provide its substitute water resources to the community first, in order to stop the permanent use of groundwater in Jakarta," said Endra..

"If there is no replacement water resource, it is difficult to stop people from using groundwater," he added.

In addition, said Endra, the Karian Dam was also used to help distribute water in order to overcome the El Nino phenomenon or the dry season.

"Yesterday (Karian Dam) was partially used for the dry season because he had already climbed the water, but because it was used in the dry season he was not full. Now, it's been a full rainy season, because the water is already in the channels," he said.

The Ministry of PUPR itself has carried out the initial filling process or the impacting of the Karian Dam.

According to Endra, the dam will start operating fully in the next 2-3 years.

"Now we are starting, yes, at least 2-3 years (can be fully channeled) gradually, yes. This means that there are already those who can operate, the network will continue to increase," he said.

For your information, the dam, which is located in Pasirtanjung Village, Rangkasbitung District, has an inundation area of 1,740 hectares with a total capacity volume of 314.7 million cubic meters.

The Karian Dam has many benefits, such as as providing household, city and industrial water (RKI) of 9.1 cubic meters per second for the Lebak Regency, Tangerang City, Tangerang Regency, South Tangerang City and parts of the DKI Jakarta Province through the Karian-Serpong Conveyance System (KSCS).

In meeting the irrigation needs to the Ciujung Irrigation Area (DI) which has an area of 22,000 ha, this dam supplies 5.5 cubic meters of water per second and also meets the water needs of RKI Cilegon City and Serang Regency.

In addition, the ability to control flooding with a capacity of 60.8 million cubic meters in downstream areas is a strategic area with important infrastructure, such as the Jakarta-Merak Toll Road and an integrated industrial area, as well as the existence of a 1.8 megawatt Mini Hydro Power Plant (PLTMH).

According to the plan, later recreational facilities and tourist destinations will be provided in the dam area.