Faculty of Engineering UI and the Institute for Sustainable Futures (ISF), University of Technology Sydney (UTS) have conducted research to assess the quality of microbes in more than 500 groundwater sources in Metro City, Lampung, and Bekasi from 2020 to 2022. It was found that 60% of the groundwater sources were contaminated by Escherichia coli bacteria. It shows that the drinking water is not safe for consumption.
Head of the Environmental Engineering Study Program, Dr. Cindy Rianti Priadi, said, “36 million people in urban areas use self-supply—providing and financing their drinking water from groundwater as the main source—with a percentage of 80% using dug or drilled wells, and 98 households in cities use the system local sanitation. Given these conditions, it is necessary to rank cities based on the level of pathogen risk in households that use groundwater.” UI and UTS presented the results in a workshop on (24/1) in Cikini, Jakarta.
Moreover, a panel discussion was held to discuss the topics of access to water supply, quality of groundwater and surface water, and policies based on facts. This discussion featured three panelists such as Aisyah Nasution from the Directorate of Housing and Settlement Areas, Dr. Ahmad Taufiq from the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing, Dr. Sci Rachmat Fajar Lubis from the National Research and Innovation Agency, and Dr. Taat Setiawan from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources.
Aisyah Nasution said that the research project started three years ago when the Ministry of National Development Planning was tasked to review groundwater connections in Indonesia. “Most people still rely on traditional methods without pipes to utilize groundwater. The water obtained from the community’s self-supply was mostly polluted when we investigated it,” said Aisyah. At the event, there was also UTS Research Director, Prof. Juliet Willetts; 25 experts in sanitation, water, and health; and representatives from the World Health Organization, World Bank, Water.org, Jakarta Environmental Service; Bekasi Environmental Service; and representatives from the National Research and Innovation Agency.
It was concluded that a transition to piped water is necessary to improve water quality, prevent a decline in groundwater levels, improve health in the long term, and integrate drinking water distribution. Moreover, there must be a concern about the sustainability of groundwater, especially when spatial planning takes water availability for granted. The UI and UTS teams will report the policy recommendations to the government to achieve safely managed groundwater services.
Dean of Faculty of Engineering UI, Prof. Dr. Ir. Heri Hermansyah, S.T., M.Eng., IPU., said, “This action shows that the Faculty of Engineering UI is highly concerned about the groundwater problems that occur in cities in Indonesia. Hopefully, the development of collaborative opportunities regarding the transition to providing clean water for urban households between academics, communities, and government can continue and be inclusive.”
