The main source of river pollutants in Indonesia is mostly from domestic or household waste
Based on a report issued by the Directorate General of Pollution Control and Environmental Damage, Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK), in 2015 nearly 68 percent or the majority of river water quality in 33 provinces in Indonesia was heavily polluted.
The assessment of river’s water quality status is based on Class II Water Quality Criteria (KMA) which is contained in the attachment to the Government Regulation on Water Quality Management and Water Pollution Control or PP 82/2001. Based on these criteria, around 24 percent of rivers are in the moderate pollution status, 6 percent are lightly polluted and only about 2 percent still meet the water quality standards.
If we look at developments from the previous year, the quality of heavily polluted river water has decreased. In 2014, no less than 79 percent of rivers were heavily polluted. In line with this decline, the percentage of rivers that are in moderate and mild water status will automatically increase in 2015.
Although rivers that are categorized as heavily polluted have decreased, the percentage is still very high. This is especially true in rivers located in the regions of Sumatra (68 percent), Java (68 percent), Kalimantan (65 percent) and Bali Nusa Tenggara (64 percent). Meanwhile, the percentage of heavily polluted rivers in the Eastern Indonesia region, namely in Sulawesi and Papua, is relatively small, namely 51 percent.
The data above shows that the quality of river’s water in all locations in the country is mostly in a heavily polluted condition. This is very worrying, considering that river water is currently the main source of clean water consumed by the majority of the population in Indonesia. Water sources that are of poor quality will threaten the health conditions of people and other living creatures that consume the water.
Domestic waste
According to Budi Kurniawan, Head of Sub-Directorate for Inventory and Allocation of Pollution Loads, Directorate General of Pollution Control and Environmental Damage, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, the main source of river’s water pollution in Indonesia, mostly comes from domestic or household waste. “So far, most people mistakenly think that the main source of river pollutants is industrial waste, but it is not. Based on research conducted in rivers which are used as monitoring points, domestic waste plays the most role as river water pollutants,” said Budi.
East Java Province Environment Agency last week (21/4/2016) through the Head of Sub-Division of Communication, Dyah Larasayu, in a discussion at the Brantas Festival, saying that the condition of the Brantas river water is currently on alert status. The water pollution is within the alarming threshold. Domestic waste is believed to be the biggest contributor to Brantas River water pollution. Domestic waste includes feces, used water from washing kitchens and bathrooms, including household waste dumped into rivers. In addition, the causes of water pollution in the Brantas River are livestock, industrial and agricultural waste.
The river’s water in Indonesia is heavily polluted
At the end of last year, there was nothing difference from what happened at the Brantas River, Head of the Bandung Regency Environmental Management Agency Atih Witartih stated that the largest amount of domestic waste disposed of into the Citarum River was compared to other wastes such as industrial, agricultural and livestock waste. Domestic waste, which is contributed by households, reaches 70 percent. Domestic waste provides the largest contribution to Citarum River pollution.
The two examples above show that domestic or household waste, which is generally in the form of feces, detergents from kitchen washing or clothes to garbage, both organic and inorganic, is the biggest contributor to pollution in river water. The results of the 2010 Population Census reveal that 26 percent or 16 million households in Indonesia do not have defecation facilities and immediately dispose of their feces into the environment (rivers, gardens, etc.). As many as 74 percent of households use a latrine, and 14 percent of them are not equipped with a septic tank. Every day it is estimated that as many as 14,000 tons of feces and 176,000 cubic meters of urine are discharged into water sources, causing 75 percent of rivers to be heavily polluted and 70 percent of urban groundwater contaminated with fecal bacteria.
Decrease in water quality
Domestic waste, livestock and industrial waste discharged into rivers have an effect on reducing water quality. The parameters for reducing water quality are generally based on the content of fecal coli, total coliform, BOD (Biological Oxygen Demand), COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand) and H2S contained in river water. Fecal waste plays a role in increasing levels of fecal coli or E coli bacteria in water. In big cities such as Jakarta, Yogyakarta, in some areas the E coli content exceeds the threshold not only in rivers but also to well water in residential areas. This is very dangerous to the health of the population and is not suitable for consumption.
River that is polluted by organic waste will usually smell bad. This is due to increased levels of BOD. The need for oxygen by microorganisms to break down organic waste will increase if the volume of waste increases. This will increase the BOD levels in the water. If the BOD level is high or exceeds the threshold, the impact is that plants or animals that grow in water will find it difficult to live and even die from lack of oxygen.
To overcome river pollution originating from domestic waste, so that water quality can meet water quality standards, pollution control measures are necessary. These steps include changing the habit of disposing of garbage in rivers, monitoring the quality of river water and building a household wastewater treatment plant or Instalasi Pengolahan Air Limbah (IPAL).
In terms of wastewater treatment plant household (IPAL), Indonesia is still very behind compared to other countries. “Let alone Thailand or Malaysia, compared to small countries like Cambodia, we are still inferior in terms of the number and volume of wastewater treatment plant facilities. Even though our population is much larger,” said Budi. Therefore, the construction of the IPAL unit is one of the Ministry of LHK’s programs to deal with river water pollution due to domestic waste.
It is not easy to change people’s habits not to throw garbage or household waste into the rivers. However, this is absolutely necessary if you do not want the main source of people’s water to become increasingly polluted and unfit for consumption. If that happens, the quality of life of the public will be even lower.
Source: nationalgeograpic.co.id
