Beware Of Decreasing Clean Water Quality In DKI Due To Drought

Ilustrasi (Foto: Free-Photos from Pixabay)

JAKARTA - Since the dry season, the quality of water in Krukut River, the river that flows from Situ Citayam to the West Flood Canal, has experienced a decline in quality.

This is due to increased levels of ammonia. High ammonia levels can be an indication of organic matter contamination from domestic or industrial waste disposal.

Main Director of Drinking Water Company (PAM) Jaya Priyatno Bambang Hernowo said the increase in ammonia was due to the decrease in the quantity of flowing water.

"Actually, the quantity is the same. Otherwise, the dry season is conducive. However, because of the dry season, the water becomes less. So, the ammonia level increases to 3," Priyatno said when contacted by VOI, Friday, July 3.

"If ammonia reaches 3, the processing time will take longer. So, the quantity of clean water produced will decrease in capacity, from 400 liters per second to 200 liters per second," he continued.

The quality of raw water from Krukut River, which still does not meet the standards, said Priyatno, will result in the potential to disrupt the supply of clean water from the Cilandak IPA to customers.

The affected areas are Ragunan, Pasar Minggu, Manggarai Selatan, Kalibata, Gandaria Utara, Tebet Timur, Kebon Baru, Manggarai, Menteng Dalam, Cilandak Barat, Lebak Bulus, and Melawai.

Then, it also affected the areas of Pejaten Barat, Cipete Selatan, Kebagusan, Tanjung Barat, Pondok Pinang, Pela Mampang, Bukit Duri, Pejaten Timur, Pulo, Tebet Barat, Rawa Jati, Gandaria Selatan, and Petogogan.

To overcome this, the Clean Water Task Force (Satgas) PAM Jaya added additional water supply from the Pejompongan and Pesanggarahan WTPs to the Cilandak IPA.

"So, there is a kind of substitution or change in flow. This is what we are currently doing so that there is no short supply. Because the network must also be regulated," said Prayitno.

During the dry season, which began last April, Priyatno said there were no complaints regarding the difficulty of clean water supply. However, when entering the peak of the dry season from July to October, the Clean Water Task Force prepares special handling.

"If the dry season continues, there will be additional flow from the well so that the distribution remains normal. If there is an emergency, we will use a water tanker," he concluded.