SOLO - PT Tirta Investama Klaten (AQUA) through the bottled drinking water (AMDK) plant in Klaten continues to strengthen efforts to conserve water resources in the Pusur Sub-Basin Area (DAS) which crosses Klaten Regency, Boyolali, and Sukoharjo.
This step is carried out as part of the strategy to maintain the sustainability of water supply in the midst of the threat of water deficits, especially during the dry season.
Aqua Senior Manager of Public Affairs & Sustainability Jeffri Ricardo, explained that the company applies an integrated conservation approach from upstream to downstream.
He added that the strategy includes understanding the characteristics of water sources, both groundwater and shallow water, which have different dependencies on rainfall.
"The biggest risk is in shallow groundwater sources because the water stock depends on the instantaneous rainfall. Well, what we are implementing is that we are carrying out integrated conservation initiatives from upstream to downstream, so that's what we are implementing," to the media, Monday, May 4.
In its implementation, he conveyed that AQUA together with stakeholders encouraged various conservation programs, such as planting trees to increase water absorption, the construction of infiltration holes (biopores), and strengthening agroforestry practices.
In addition, Jeffri said the company is also developing a payment scheme for environmental services (PJL) which provides incentives to farmers and communities who contribute to maintaining water resources, including the transition from conventional to organic farming.
"Cooperation with the institute's pusur forms the name of environmental service payments like that, so we campaigned with the institute's pusur to many positive parties, so that they also contribute to water conservation. So this money will be in the form of environmental service payments will be transferred to environmental conservation actors," he explained.
On the other hand, Pusur Institute Lintang Eka said that the Pusur watershed is an important part of the Bengawan Solo system, so the sustainability of the upstream area is very important for water supply along the river.
"We collaborate with CSR aqua, we continue to plant trees in the upstream area, and we also do conservation of coffee and orchids," he said.
Apart from ecological benefits, the management of the Pusur River Basin also has economic impacts for the community, one of which is through the payment of environmental services and the development of river tubing tourism activities.
"We together with other partners we make a program to pay for environmental services so in the upstream area which is the recharge area. We gather conservation farmers to become providers of environmental services," he explained.
According to him, this activity encourages an increase in public awareness to maintain cleanliness and sustainability of rivers because it provides direct economic value.
This multi-party collaboration was appreciated by, Kanjeng Gusti Pangeran Adipati Arya Mangkunegara X or Gusti Bhre who assessed that the synergy between corporations, local communities, and business actors is able to create a sustainable conservation ecosystem.
"I think today is one example of that extraordinary effort between the collaboration between corporate partners with the local community and also the stage of local business activities. There are friends from New Rivermoon. There are friends from Aqua and also friends from Pusur Institute. I think these three parties are building an ecosystem that of course water is something that is very important," he said.
According to him, these efforts not only maintain water availability, but also strengthen harmonious relations between humans and the environment.
"So hopefully from the perspective of water conservation and the environment it can become an ecosystem that continues to grow and develop for a long time. Continue and of course it will have more impact and benefit for many people," he said.
The English, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, and French versions are automatically generated by the AI. So there may still be inaccuracies in translating, please always see Indonesian as our main language. (system supported by DigitalSiber.id)
