One Million Infiltration Wells: Anies Baswedan's Strategy To Prevent Jakarta Floods Accused Of Not Much Use

Construction of infiltration wells in various areas in Jakarta. (Between)

JAKARTA - Anies Baswedan is confident that he can overcome the Jakarta floods. The governor of DKI Jakarta in the 2017-2022 era participated in racking his brain to find a solution. The new strategy was rolled out. The One Million Recipe Well Project, his name. All corners of Jakarta are part of the allotment made by infiltration wells.

Problems arise. Anies is considered reckless in dedicating only one solution. Steps to make recipe wells are not much useful. Every time it rains, the high intensity of Jakarta floods are always present.

Each Jakarta leader has their own studies in tackling flood matters. In fact, his studies are often labeled as the best. Joko Widodo (Jokowi) - Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok) also once had the belief that he could make floods flee from Jakarta.

The governor and deputy governor of DKI Jakarta in the 2012-2017 era prepared a series of steps, from prevention to flood management. Both believe that tackling Jakarta floods cannot be 'dedicated' only one step. A series of preventive and countermeasures are prepared.

Jokowi-Ahok wants to add Green Open Space (RTH), Blue Open Space (RTB), to normalized Ciliwung River. Ahok also added this step by forming Public Infrastructure and Facilities Handling (PPSU) officers in each kelurahan.

The effort was massive. However, the flood was still able to be present in Jakarta. It was raining heavily, the two Jakarta leaders often couldn't sleep thinking about when the flood could recede. The new DKI Jakarta captain Anies Baswedan did not want to lose.

He believes his leadership can solve the Jakarta flood problem. He wants to appear different from the previous DKI Jakarta leader. He refused to continue the Ciliwung River normalization project. Anies is actually interested in new tactics.

Anies confidently launched a 1.8 million infiltration well construction project or also known as vertical drainage since 2018. A solution that is believed to be accurate. Anies praised infiltration wells as a solution that was able to absorb rainwater.

Infiltration wells can also maintain soil quality and fill groundwater reserves. Alias, once built, the benefits can be felt by the whole of Jakarta. Anies did not forget to complete his steps by urging Jakarta residents to build infiltration wells independently.

Anies emphasized the importance of every citizen being responsible for ensuring that water does not overflow onto the streets. Apart from being disciplined in not littering, he also appealed to more infiltration wells to be built.

The diameter can start from 60 centimeters to one meter and be placed in the yard. Properties such as schools, office buildings, and apartments that have a large yard are expected to promote the construction of this well," said Laraswatiwas Anwar in her writings in Kompas Daily entitled Governor of DKI Jakarta Urges Residents to Build Infiltration Wells (2020).

The infiltration well construction project began. Anies and the DKI Jakarta Government believe this project will bring significant results. In fact, it is far from burning. The presence of infiltration wells is not much useful.

This condition is not because the newly executed infiltration wells only reach thousands far from the target of 1.8 million. All boil down to the reception well project which is not actually the main solution to prevent flooding in Jakarta. Other countries have not even 'dedicated' vertical drainage solutions to prevent flooding.

The construction of infiltration wells in the style of Anies has received criticism from here and there. The construction of infiltration wells is the most highlighted. Reports related to the haphazardness of construction disturb motorcyclists / cars milling around on social media.

This condition was exacerbated by the presence of thousands of infiltration wells which did not help much when it rained and continued to flush Jakarta. The flood still greets Jakarta as usual. This condition makes the infiltration well program a waste of budget.

The owner of attorney was asked to reconsider the plan. Instead of forcing themselves to build a million prescription wells, the DKI Jakarta government can act more optimally to prevent flooding by carrying out the Ciliwung River normalization project and the like.

Infiltration wells are only one way to deal with flooding, but not the main thing. The government cannot rely on millions of infiltration wells to accommodate high rainfall because the capacity is very small.

For example, one million Jakarta infiltration wells can accommodate about two billion liters of water. If the rainfall is evenly distributed to 1 millimeter, the spilled water is around 661.5 million liters. With lubricants, all infiltration wells are only able to accommodate rainfall up to 3 millimeters. Even though the lowest rainfall in DKI this year alone reached 12.1 millimeters and the highest was more than a thousand millimeters," wrote Tempo Magazine's report entitled Salah Target Sumur Infiltration (2021).