Aqua Polemic Takes Bor Well Water, Management Gives This Explanation To The DPR

Vice President General Secretary of Danone Indonesia Vera Galuh Sugijanto who represents PT Tirta Investama with the drinking water brand Aqua. Photo: Screenshot/YouTube TV Parliament

JAKARTA - Vice President General Secretary of Danone Indonesia Vera Galuh Sugijanto who represented PT Tirta Investama with the drinking water brand Aqua gave an explanation to Commission VII DPR regarding the water sources they used.

This was in response to the findings of West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi who found the use of groundwater in the production process. The findings are considered contrary to Aqua's claim which has so far carried the image of 'natural mountain water'.

Vera explained that until now Aqua has 20 factories concentrated in West Java.

Most of the other Aqua factories are spread across Java, Sumatra to Sulawesi and Bali. The current number of Aqua employees is around 10,000 people.

Regarding the water source used by Aqua, he claims it is mountain water. Prior to water collection, Aqua collaborated with universities such as UGM and Unpad to find out where the hydrogeologically proven water source and isotopes are captured by rainwater in the mountains.

"Only after that we were able to determine whether the location was appropriate for the opening of the factory according to the existing market needs. So, our water source is a source of mountain water in accordance with the hydrogeological study, of course, the permit is to use a deep groundwater licensing or a Groundwater Concession Permit (SIPA) by ESDM," Vera said at the Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, Monday, November 10.

Meanwhile, if there is a perception or opinion that Aqua is drilled water, he explained, drilling is a way that the company must do to get an internal groundwater source or an akuifer to be depressed or protected.

Vera said that the aquifer water was naturally protected for hundreds of years by rock layers, so there was no risk of contamination from water sources.

"So, the water source is mountain water in accordance with this hydrogeological manner. The drilling carried out in depth is in accordance with the aquifer condition and according to the permit given by ESDM," he explained.

He revealed, within a month, Aqua produced 1 million cubic meters of water with various products, such as bottles to gallons. Meanwhile, 99.9 percent of Aqua's marketing is still being carried out in the domestic market.

Furthermore, Vera also explained that regarding paying to PDAM, the context is only for factories in Subang. For Subang, said Vera, Aqua water sources happen to be close to the water source PDAM Subang.

"According to the agreement from the time the subang factory was established, we paid PDAM's contribution to maintaining and maintaining water. Given, there are concerns that our water source PDAM could have an impact on PDAM's discharge or water level. Our payment is not water use, but rather compensation to care for, keep water sources close to each other," he explained.

To note, Commission VII of the DPR RI summoned eight Contained Drinking Water (AMDK) companies along with the Standardization and Policy Agency for Industrial Services to the Directorate General of Agro Industry of the Ministry of Industry (Kemenperin) in the aftermath of the Aqua polemic using water from bore wells, not from mountains.

The AMDK company called by the DPR is PT Panfila Indosari with the drinking water brand RON 88, PT Amidis Tirta Mulia with the brand Amidis, PT Tirta Fresindo Jaya with the Le Minerale brand, PT Muawanah Al Ma'soem with the Ma'soem brand, PT Super Wahana Tehno with the Pristine brand, PT Tirta Investama with Aqua, PT Sariguna Primatirta with the Cleo brand and PT Jaya Lestari Sejahtera with the Yasmin brand.