Repeatedly, River Pollution Disrupts the Operation of PDAM Surakarta

The river water treatment plant in Surakarta, Central Java, has stopped operating again. This problem recurs every dry season.

KOMPAS/NINO CITRA ANUGRAHANTO

Officials from the Semanggi Water Treatment Plant display a water sample suspected of being contaminated with waste in the Bengawan Solo river, located on the border between Sukoharjo Regency and Surakarta City, Central Java, on Tuesday (21/5/2024). The pollution is believed to originate from textile and ethanol waste. This situation has caused the Semanggi Water Treatment Plant to temporarily stop operating.

SURAKARTA, KOMPAS - The water treatment installation in Surakarta, Central Java, has been disrupted due to pollution in the Bengawan Solo's tributaries. The presence of waste and textile pollution caused the installation to temporarily stop operating. This issue has been going on for years during the dry season.

Operational disruption occurred at the Water Treatment Installation (IPA) in Semanggi, Surakarta City, on Tuesday (21/5/2024). The drinking water treatment machine stopped working since 1 p.m. Until 4 p.m. WIB, the installation had not been switched on yet due to the condition of the river flow being heavily polluted with waste.

"During every dry season, we are always affected because the river's water level decreases, while waste disposal continues," said Semanggi Water Treatment Installation Coordinator Mulyono, when met at the Semanggi Water Treatment Installation Intake, Sukoharjo Regency, Central Java, on Tuesday afternoon.

Also read: Discussion Regarding River Pollution, Central Java Provincial Government Promises to Tighten Supervision

KOMPAS/NINO CITRA ANUGRAHANTO

The color of the river's flow appears to be different, believed to be caused by waste pollution in the Bengawan Solo River, which is located on the border of Sukoharjo Regency and Surakarta City, Central Java, on Tuesday (21/5/2024). The pollution is suspected to come from textile and ethanol waste. This situation has led to the temporary halt of operations at the Semanggi Water Treatment Installation.

Mulyono suspects that the cause of water pollution comes from textile and ethanol waste. This is based on the presence of textile and home-based alcohol industries located along the banks of Bengawan Solo.

Based on observations on Tuesday afternoon, the water flow from Bengawan Solo, which is located on the border between Sukoharjo Regency and Surakarta City, appears blackened. The water from the river is usually slightly greenish in color and somewhat clear. The river water is used as a raw material for clean water at IPA Semanggi, which is part of the Regional Drinking Water Company (Perumda) Toya Wening Surakarta.

Mulyono revealed that the risk is too high if he dares to process contaminated water. There is a tendency for the processed water to be dark in color. Moreover, there is a possibility of a strong odor of residual waste in the water supply that is distributed to customers' homes.

KOMPAS/NINO CITRA ANUGRAHANTO

Officers from the Semanggi Water Treatment Installation took water samples suspected to be contaminated by waste in Bengawan Solo, which is located on the border of Sukoharjo Regency and Surakarta City in Central Java on Tuesday (21/5/2024). The pollution is suspected to come from textile and ethanol waste. The situation caused the Semanggi Water Treatment Installation to temporarily stop operating.

"However, this is water intended for consumption by the community. Therefore, it is very dangerous if we still process it in a polluted condition," said Mulyono.

Unfortunately, the operational disturbance occurred for two consecutive days. On Monday (May 20th, 2024), they were forced to stop the operation of the Semanggi water treatment plant. However, the operation was only halted for one hour.

“Operating again because the water gradually loses its density. "So, river water can be used as raw material," said Mulyono.

In fact, this is water for residents to consume. So, it is very dangerous if we still process it in polluted conditions.

Mulyono is not yet able to determine exactly how long the operation of water processing will be stopped this Tuesday. This is because he did not see a decrease in the concentration of water despite the change in river water color occurring for more than three hours.

KOMPAS/NINO CITRA ANUGRAHANTO

A resident was fishing in the middle of a murky river suspected of being affected by pollution in the Bengawan Solo, located on the border between Sukoharjo District and Surakarta City, Central Java, on Tuesday (5/21/2024). The pollution is suspected to have come from textile and ethanol waste. This situation has caused the Semanggi Water Treatment Plant to stop operating temporarily.

"As long as the condition is like this, we can only wait. When the waste is depleted or the river's concentration decreases, then we can operate again," he said.

According to Mulyono's monitoring, the availability of water in the reservoir is still sufficient to be distributed to the residents. The water supply is predicted to run out within the next 10 hours since 12.00 pm WIB.

Another problem, according to Mulyono, arises if the installation doesn't start operating within that period of time. The depletion of water in the reservoir leads to a disruption of the water supply to customer households.

"For the Semanggi drinking water treatment plant, the processed result is distributed to around 6,000 to 7,000 customers. Its coverage area is only around the Pasar Kliwon sub-district," he said.

KOMPAS/NINO CITRA ANUGRAHANTO

The river flow appears muddy, allegedly due to waste pollution in Bengawan Solo located on the border of Sukoharjo Regency and Surakarta City, Central Java, on Tuesday (21/5/2024). The pollution is suspected to come from textile waste and ethanol. This situation has caused the Semanggi Water Treatment Installation to temporarily stop operating.

Separately, the Secretary of Perumda Water Utility Toya Wening Mahasri stated that according to the plan, the cessation of operations will take place for 10-12 hours. Every three hours, officials will check the suitability of the raw water before the installation is operational again.

"We have coordinated with Jasa Tirta to increase the flow of water from Bengawan Solo through Gajah Mungkur Dam so that wastewater can be diverted to other places (to enable the Semanggi Water Treatment Plant to operate quickly)," he said.

Mahasri claimed that the cessation of operations has not yet impacted customers. However, she prepared a scenario for delivering clean water aid if disturbances occur for 24 hours. She also coordinated with local stakeholders to check the waste disposal.

Also read: Suspected of being contaminated by Ciu waste, PDAM Surakarta's water processing is disrupted

KOMPAS/NINO CITRA ANUGRAHANTO

A resident crossed the Bengawan Solo river in a bamboo raft in Sukoharjo regency, Central Java on Thursday (9/9/2021). It is suspected that pollution occurred due to the disposal of alcohol waste, namely ciu, into the river. As a result, the Toya Wening PDAM of Surakarta City had to temporarily halt operations of one of its water treatment installations due to increased water concentration.

Contacted separately, Head of the Sukoharjo District Environmental Agency, Agus Suprapto, stated that they have sent warning letters to business owners regarding the waste issue. The contents of the letter remind them to dispose of waste in accordance with the standards. The letter also mentioned administrative and criminal sanctions that may be imposed if the warning is ignored.

Agus admitted to having frequently mentored the business actors to dispose of waste in accordance with the established quality standards. Some of the business actors also have wastewater treatment installations, but their operation is not yet optimal.

"However, most of this comes from small industries. We will emphasize on their cultivation first. It is different for large industries, where the sanctions may include suspension or revocation of permits," said Agus.