Increasing Liquid Waste Management Rates In Banjarmasin, DPRD Suggests Perumda PALD Attract Restaurants To Become Consumers

Illustration of liquid waste thrown into the sea. (Antara)

SOUTH KALIMANTAN - The awareness of Banjarmasin City residents for waste management, especially liquid waste from households, is considered to be low.

The assessment came from the Director of the Regional Public Company (Perumda) for Domestic Wastewater Management (PALD) of Banjarmasin City. According to his party's data, liquid waste management in Banjarmasin is still at 4.45 percent until the end of 2022.

"If we count the customers of PT Air Drinking Bandarmasih, Banjarmasin City, there are 180,000 households," he said in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan (Kalsel), Thursday, January 12, as reported by Antara.

Even though his party has been intensively conducting socialization, said Endang, public awareness of the importance of managing household wastewater has not been maximized.

"So, our plan from 2023 to 2026 is between 0.5 percent or 0.6 percent for around 600 additional customers," he said.

According to Endang, Perumda PALD continues to make efforts to add piped connections to residents' homes, in addition to the septic tank system.

"But of course, it can't be done on a large scale, because the capital is very minimal," he added.

Chairman of Commission II DPRD City of Banjarmasin, Awan Subarkah, suggested that the Perumda PALD of Banjarmasin City could increase the discipline rate for liquid waste management, especially for business actors in Banjarmasin by imposing certain rules.

This was conveyed by Awan during a working visit with other board members and an evaluation meeting with Perumda PALD Banjarmasin City on Thursday 12 January.

"That's why during the meeting we got input for Perumda PALD, including implementing rules for places of business, restaurants, calculations, and others to be customers," said Awan.

Awan also asked the Banjarmasin City Government to pay serious attention to the operations of Perumda PALD. This effort, he said, could maximize Perumda PALD's operations in handling waste for environmental sustainability in this area.

"We also ask Perumda PALD to also continue to innovate to maximize service, and attract customers, so that it can become a healthy company," he stated.