Jatigede Sumedang Dam Drys, Local Government Geological Agency Prevents Weather Modification

Dam or Jatigede Reservoir in Sumedang, West Java, Monday 9 July 2018. (Between-Hafidz Mubarak A)

JAKARTA - The Geological Agency asked the local government (Pemda) to implement weather modifications to overcome the receding water at the Jatigede Dam, Sumedang Regency, West Java. Drought began to hit the Geological Agency because of the long dry season caused by El Nino.

"The way the local government mitigation is to do artificial rain using weather modification technology," said Head of the Center for Groundwater and Geological Environment at the Geological Agency, Adiar Usman, when contacted in Jakarta, Monday, October 9, as quoted by Antara.

He explained that one of the functions of dams or reservoirs is to store surface water so that it can be utilized in the dry season as it is today.

The current dry condition, he said, makes the fulfillment of daily water needs by the community relatively disrupted because the supply is reduced.

"Mitigation using weather modification technology can later be carried out at the location of the Jatigede Dam water catchment area," he said.

One solution to meet needs, both consumption water and rice fields, he said, is that people can take advantage of the potential for groundwater which is considered still in a safe condition.

Extreme weather as a result of El Nino caused the Jatigede Dam, Sumedang Regency to experience a water discharge shrinkage.

Apart from being a water source, the dam is for hydroelectric power plants (PLTA) with a capacity of up to 110 megawatts, flood control in an area of 14 thousand hectares, and tourist attractions.