TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jakarta Deputy Governor Sandiaga Uno stated the desalination program in which removing salt from seawater could be implemented to fulfill the water needs for Jakartans. The innitiative was proposed following the succeed in installing Andrich Tech based system of wastewater treatment plant (IPAL), a technology for stool water treatment.

“Yesterday, we’ve seen the treatment of household waste, I think it’s possible for desalination plant despite it requires huge energy sources,” he said today in Pondok Indah Market, South Jakarta.

Sandiaga said the management of water resources is the priority matter for the city government and they will monitor the technology considering the subsidence condition in Jakarta started to be worrisome.

Read: Sandiaga Targets 80 pct of Jakartan Have Access to Clean Water

Earlier, Depok provincial government told the Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) that Jakarta should not further take water supply from Ciliwung river for the city tap water company (PDAM), PAM Jaya.

According to Depok’s Development Planning Agency Widyati Riyandani, only 17.1 percent residents in the city had access to clean water from PAM. The production capacity was also at 1,095 liters per second.

She further expected Ciliwung river would be only managed by Depok and Bogor because she considered Jakarta under the reign of Sandiaga Uno has the source of technology and budget for desalination program.

M YUSUF MANURUNG | IRSYAN HASYIM