Population Density Triggers High Content Of E.coli Bacteria In Yogyakarta City Well Water

Residential area on the riverbanks of Yogyakarta City. (Between)

YOGYAKARTA - The content of E.coli bacteria in well water in Yogyakarta City is quite high. The public is advised to treat water properly before consumption so that it does not have an impact on health.

"From the results of our tests, most of the well water in Yogyakarta contains high levels of E.coli bacteria," said Head of the Technical Implementation Unit of the Environmental Laboratory of the Yogyakarta City Environmental Service (DLH), Sutomo, in Yogyakarta, Monday, August 15.

According to him, contamination of E.coli bacteria in well water in the city of Yogyakarta has been going on for quite a long time because of the densely populated residential conditions in the city.

"Due to the condition of settlements that are already densely populated with residents, it is not uncommon for the distance between wells and domestic waste processing between houses to not meet the ideal distance, resulting in E.coli bacteria contamination in residents' wells," he said.

However, he continued, well water contaminated with E.coli bacteria can be used by processing it first, by boiling the water until it boils.

"When the water is boiled until it boils, the E.coli bacteria will die. However, most people in Yogyakarta currently consume bottled water or refilled water for their food and drinking needs. They no longer take it directly from well water," he said.

If well water is not treated properly and consumed immediately, he continued, it can cause health problems.

"The water from the well is still safe to use for bathing, washing, and latrines (MCK)," he added.

In addition to checking the quality standards of well water in a number of sub-district offices as well as markets and several agencies, the UPT Environmental Laboratory of the DLH Yogyakarta City also provides services for checking the quality of water for residents' wells.

"Residents simply apply for inspection through the Jogja Smart Service (JSS) application. Later, officers will come to take samples and check their quality," he said.

The results of the laboratory examination will be sent directly to the JSS account of the resident concerned. "The results of this laboratory examination will only be submitted to the applicant's account. Not for publication," he said.

In 2021, UPT Environmental Laboratory DLH Yogyakarta City will also measure the quality of springs in nine locations including Belik Balirejo, Cokrodiningratan springs, Umbul Lanang, Belik Wedok, and Belik Tirta Buana and almost all of them show E.coli bacteria content that exceeds the threshold. limit.

Likewise, inspection of river water quality in all rivers in the city of Yogyakarta also showed the same thing, the content of E.coli bacteria that exceeded the threshold and from the results of water quality inspections, the river water quality quality index last year was 38.44.