Jakarta – Building absorption wells is one of the efforts to reduce the impact of flooding while storing rainwater as groundwater reserves. However, it should not be arbitrarily built to maintain groundwater quality, officials said Tuesday (12/4).
In a webinar commemorating the 30th World Water Day, with the topic “’Optimizing Groundwater for All’, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Basuki Hadimuljono reminded that in building absorption wells, we need to pay attention to the water table. This is to avoid water being absorbed not to contaminate groundwater.
“Groundwater is a relatively more expensive source of water when compared to surface water, because it takes longer to recharge,” said Hadimuljono, adding that optimisation of groundwater must be interpreted as optimal utilisation by prioritising save yield and vice versa.
“What I mean by save yield is that we utilise groundwater with conjunctive use,” he added.
Hadimuljono encourages all stakeholders to continue to increase knowledge in water resources management, especially groundwater by prioritising a scientific approach. “It is necessary to balance the exploration of groundwater with surface water for its utilisation, so that we can prevent deterioration or at least extend the life of groundwater,” he said.
Although Indonesia has a large natural potential of water resources, both groundwater and surface water, it requires good management to avoid a clean water crisis.
Hadimuljono said the management of water resources can not be done by one sector alone. Collaboration between stakeholders, including the community, government, businessmen, academics, researchers, and professional organisations in the water sector is very important in order to provide real solutions to every groundwater problem in Indonesia, for the sake of good groundwater sustainability in the future.
In this regard, he explained that there are three things that need to be focused on, the first relates to the conservation of recharge areas, the second relates to the save yield for policies and their implementation and the third is related to groundwater exploration. (Hartatik)
