The Mystery Of Blue Lake In Talang Boseng, Central Bengkulu, Was Revealed, It Turned Out That It Was Due To Excessive Fertilizer

The Central Bengkulu Regency DLH team took samples of lake water which was previously brown to blue, some time ago. ANTARA/Anggi Mayasari

BENGKULU - The Environment Agency (DLH) of Central Bengkulu Regency, Bengkulu said the lake in Talang Boseng Village, Pondok Kelapa District, which changed the color of water from brown to blue due to the excessive use of pearl fertilizers.

"Judging from the laboratory results, the blue water comes from phosphates that exceed the threshold. Phosphate is one of the ingredients in blue pearl fertilizer," said Head of DLH Central Bengkulu Regency Mahendra Gustian as reported by ANTARA, Saturday, November 18.

This was known after his party conducted a parameter test and found three elements that exceeded the raw materials, namely BDO3, COD, and Phosphate (PO4).

The local area has a Regional Regulation (Perda) of the Bengkulu Provincial Government Number 6 of 2005 concerning the determination of water quality standards and river water classes across districts/cities in Bengkulu Province (Class II).

Based on the results of laboratory tests, he said, blue water is thought to come from pearl fertilizers that are used for excess palm oil plants.

Therefore, the water is not suitable for consumption, while people who have brought blue water from the lake to their homes are advised not to consume.

Some time ago, the people of Bengkulu were shocked by the lake water in the middle of an oil palm plantation which turned blue.

"The lake with a diameter of approximately five meters has occurred some time ago. In addition, there is no influence from any waste because there is no factory or garbage disposal site around the location," said Talang Village Head Boseng Iskandar.

One of the visitors from North Bengkulu Regency, Eni, came to the blue lake because he was curious so he wanted to confirm the truth of the information from the video circulating.

To avoid bad things from happening, the area on the edge of the lake is given a barrier and a warning banner.