Groundwater In Greater Bandung Down More Than 40 Meters, The ESDM Geological Agency Calls This Critical Condition

Head of PATGTL of the Geological Agency Rita Susilawati. (PHOTO BETWEEN/Good Ahmad Rizaldi)

The Geological Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) is reviewing the relationship between land subsidence and land subsidence in the Greater Bandung area, West Java Province. Head of the Center for Groundwater and Environmental Management Geology (PATGTL) Rita Susilawati said groundwater conditions in Bandung for several locations had been critical to damage as indicated by continued groundwater subsidence. "Based on groundwater monitoring wells, archesis groundwater level in Bandung has fallen more than 40 meters underground," he said in a statement quoted in Jakarta, Antara, Thursday, February 2. He explained that groundwater in the Bandung land area is said to be safe if the archesis ground level is at a depth of less than 20 meters below the local ground level. The phenomenon of landwater subsidence is one of the factors causing land subsidence or often called land subsidence. Based on its analysis, the Geological Agency, an area where the groundwater level is categorized as damaged, is in Rancaekek, Leuwigajah, and several other areas. The decrease in water level was caused by groundwater extraction for various purposes, especially industry, hotels, and other factors. Landwater collection permits for various purposes have been in their respective local governments. However, currently, licensing has been transferred to the Geological Agency since last year. Rita ensures that the party is always careful to grant permission to collect groundwater on a large scale, including in the Bandung – Soreang groundwater basin (CAT) area whose territory includes Bandung Regency, Bandung City, Cimahi City, and its surroundings. He admitted that he would coordinate with the local government to conduct a moratorium on areas that were damaged by groundwater in the Greater Bandung area. "Water is a primary need for people's lives, so wisdom is needed to overcome the condition of the land subsidence," said Rita Susilawati.