Jabodetabek Faces Water Crisis Amid Prolonged Drought

The Greater Jakarta metropolitan area (Jabodetabek) is facing a severe water shortage crisis due to a prolonged drought. The water level of the Ciliwung River, one of the main water sources, has reached a record low of zero centimeters at the Katulampa Dam in Bogor City, with the river drying up. Rosmiati, a resident of Kampung Katulampa in Bogor City, is bathing her children in Kali Baru, an irrigation canal that draws water from the Ciliwung River, as her household well water supply has dwindled. She uses this water for laundry, washing dishes, and even for rinsing after children use the toilet at home. The reduced water flow in the Ciliwung River is also affecting the water treatment plant of PDAM Tirta Pakuan, the state-owned water company supplying Bogor City, leading to a decrease in water supply to 35,492 households. In other areas along the Ciliwung River, such as Kampung Pulo Geulis in Babakan Pasar, Bogor City, the shallow riverbeds have become playgrounds for children. They are seen jumping into the remaining puddles or building makeshift fish ponds by damming the flow with stones. This water scarcity is expected to put further pressure on drinking water supply across the Jabodetabek region. Especially in Jakarta, a densely populated area, water resource management and sustainable use have become urgent issues. The increasing frequency of extreme weather events due to climate change suggests that similar crises may occur in the future, necessitating long-term solutions. Information Source: Mongabay Indonesia