Ciliwung Water Now Claimed Suitable for Drinking and Fish Cultivation

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The quality of water in the Ciliwung River has improved significantly, hence the water can now be utilized for fish cultivation and processed for drinking water, stated Peni Susanti, leader of the Clean Ciliwung Movement.

"As Ciliwung River water quality has improved to level two, river biotas, such as fish and shrimp, can now live in the Ciliwung water," she announced at the 10th Ciliwung Day commemoration event in Penjernihan, Central Jakarta, on Saturday.

The improvement in Ciliwung River's water quality has been the fruit of revitalization, maintenance, and cleaning efforts undertaken since the Clean Ciliwung Movement was initiated in 1989, she added.

She expressed the hope that improving water quality would induce Jakarta residents to participate in efforts to maintain the cleanliness and water quality of the 120-km river.

"The recent discovery of endemic giant softshell turtles, mystus fish, and blue lobsters in the river are proving that the water quality in Ciliwung River has improved indeed," she remarked.

At the same event, the head of the Jakarta Environment Office, Asep Kuswanto, lauded the Green Ciliwung Movement -- supported by 36 local communities -- in aiding efforts for the normalization of the Ciliwung River.

"Improvement of the Ciliwung River water quality to level 2 means the river is now becoming better than before. We hope this improvement continues and we can utilize the river as a new tourism potential for Jakarta," Kuswanto stated.

Meanwhile, the president director of Jakarta government-owned water treatment company PAM Jaya, Priyatno Bambang Hernowo, said that before utilizing water collected from Jatiluhur Dam in Purwakarta district, the company processed Ciliwung River water to fulfill Jakara residents' water demand.

"Before Jatiluhur Dam was constructed, we processed the waters of Ciliwung River, with a capacity of 6,200 liters per minute. This highlighted the importance of ensuring Ciliwung River water quality to fulfill the demand for water as the basic needs of the residents," Hernowo added.

Read: 34 Districts Near Ciliwung River Banks Prone to Flood: Jakarta BPBD

ANTARA