Rules For Using Groundwater Must Be State Permits Affect Land Face Reduction Rate In Jakarta

The building was flooded with high tide in Muara Baru, North Jakarta, Wednesday, October 16, 2019. (Between Photo-Reno Esnir)

JAKARTA - Head of the Groundwater Conservation Center (BKAT) of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Taat Setiawan explained that the rules for using groundwater issued by the government had a significant impact on reducing groundwater use in Jakarta.

The rules for using ground water that must be state permits are contained in the Decree of the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Number 291.K/GL.01/MEM.G/2023 concerning the Standards for Implementing Approval for Groundwater Use.

"Grafik the use of ground water in Jakarta has decreased significantly. Of course this is related to the strict groundwater collection regulations," said Taat through an online discussion in Jakarta, Tuesday, December 19, which was confiscated by Antara.

Landwater management activities that have been carried out include groundwater collection regulations, increasing groundwater taxes, and increasing drinking water supply through PDAM Jaya services.

Ta'at explained that the graph of groundwater use rates in Jakarta also affects the rate of land subsidence.

Based on analysis of extensometer data and piezometers for the 2001 '2002 period by the BKAT, the decline in groundwater levels contributed 30 percent to land subsidence.

In addition, according to research conducted in 2008, land subsidence from 1997 to 2005 showed variations in land subsidence from 1 to 10 centimeters per year and 15 to 20 centimeters per year.

Then according to data from the Geological Agency submitted by Taat, since 2020 Jakarta has no longer experienced land subsidence until June 2022. The Geological Agency also noted that the rate of land subsidence in Jakarta was 0.04 to 6.30 centimeters per year.

There are also findings that there was an increase in groundwater supply in the Jakarta ground water basin area where there was an increase of between 0.05 meters to 6 meters per year.

"There is an increase in the amount of ground water reducing the rate of land subsidence. However, we must remain vigilant and continue to apply regulations for the use of groundwater for sustainability," said Ta'at.