TEMPO.CO, Depok - Depok District government should take action to anticipate land subsidence. The ground level decreases 0.3 cm from sea surface each year. “The population growth makes the city weight increased,” said Head of Depok City Development Planning Agency Widyati Riyandani on Monday, May 28, 2018.

According to Widyati, population growth in Depok City is the second highest after Bekasi City in West Java. “Educating people to switch using water from PAM is the effort that has been already taken," she said.

Only 17.1 percent Depok citizen use PAM. The city water tap company (PDAM) will construct more pipeline network underground to reach all settlements. “In 2021, we target to complete it 100 percent,” said Widyati.

The government reiterated the business area to use PAM water. They have been acting decisively to impose sanctions on companies that still using groundwater. However, it is not yet giving deterrent effect. “The regulation will be revised in the future,” Widyati confirmed.

Another effort that has been taken is building infiltration wells. There are 16 infiltration wells that had been built so far. “This year we will add two more,” she conveyed. This strategy is considered effective to prevent land subsidence.

IRSYAN HASYIM