TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Water pollution level in four rivers in Yogyakarta has far surpassed the quality standard threshold. The four rivers are Code, Winongo, Gajah Wong and Manunggal. "Pollution increases due to domestic waste," Yogyakarta Environment Agency’s (BLH) environmental capacity development chief, Ika Rostika, said yesterday.
Based on the latest BLH’s observation early this year, the average pollution reaches 150 to 300 milligrams per liter from normal threshold of 50. "Pollution in Code is the highest," said Ika.
The increased pollution is caused by people using rainwater conduits to throw domestic waste. "We were wondering why the rainwater conduits were filled while there was no rain. It turns out they were filled with domestic waste," he said.
The pollution is concentrated on specific area in each river. In Code River, the worst pollution is at Sayidan Bridge, Winongo River at Kyai Mojo Street Bridge, Gajah Wong River at Logatu Bridge and Manunggal River at Gayam Street Bridge.
The BLH has urged the Regional Residential Facilities and Infrastructure Agency to immediately act on the misuse. The BLH will launch a river sterilization campaign in World Water Day on March 22.
However, Yogyakarta Residential Facilities and Infrastructure Agency’s irrigation and drainage chief Aki Lukman Nur Hakim said to have no authority to discipline the act. "We can only pass it on to the Discipline Agency," he said.
PRIBADI WICAKSONO | EDI FAISOL