Greta Jimenez
The Citarum River, located in West Java, Indonesia, is considered one of the world's most polluted rivers. Decades of neglect and industrial activity have turned the once pristine waterway into a toxic swamp, with vast structures of plastic waste, chemical pollutants, and heavy metal contaminants. The river provides a crucial water supply for local communities, agriculture, and industry, but the pollution has led to severe environmental, economic, and health impacts. Despite challenges, the Indonesian government, activists, and communities are working towards an ambitious seven-year river cleanup operation, aiming to restore the Citarum to its former health and bring about economic benefits.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | West Java, Indonesia |
| Length | 300 kilometres |
| Population of people in close contact with the river | 9 million |
| Number of factories contributing to pollution | 2,000-2,800 |
| Amount of waste dumped in the river daily | 20,000 tons |
| Amount of wastewater dumped in the river daily | 340,000 tons |
| Toxins found in the river | Lead, mercury, arsenic, sulphites, nonylphenol, phthalates, PCB 180, paranitrophenol, tributylphosphate, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, zinc, polonium, microplastics |
| Status of river | Considered one of the most polluted rivers in the world |
| Cleanup efforts | Seven-year plan initiated by President Joko Widodo in 2018, involving the military and the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs |
| Benefits of a clean Citarum River | Improved drinking water quality, increased crop yields, revitalized ecosystem, improved aesthetics, economic benefits of up to $280 million annually |
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What You'll Learn
- The Citarum River is the third-longest river in Java, Indonesia
- Pollution from textile factories and other industries
- The river is used for fishing, drinking water, and irrigation
- People living near the river suffer from skin diseases and respiratory issues
- Efforts to clean up the river, including reforestation and government initiatives
The Citarum River is the third-longest river in Java, Indonesia
The Citarum River, also known as the Tarum River, is the third-longest river in Java, Indonesia. It is the longest and largest river in West Java, stretching for almost 300 kilometres and providing a crucial water supply for local livelihoods. The river is relied upon by millions of people and plays an important role in the lives of the people of West Java.
However, despite its significance, the Citarum River has earned an unfortunate reputation as one of the most polluted rivers in the world. Decades of neglect and mismanagement have turned the once pristine waterway into a toxic swamp. The main sources of pollution are the approximately 2,000 industrial facilities, mostly from the textile industry, located along the riverbed. These factories discharge enormous amounts of chemical waste and toxins, including lead, mercury, arsenic, and other heavy metals, directly into the river. In addition, households in the upper part of the river also contribute to pollution by dumping sewage waste and plastics.
The pollution in the Citarum River has had severe consequences for the environment and local communities. High levels of toxins and heavy metals in the water have led to the elimination of a significant part of the river's fish population. People living along the river have no alternative but to use the contaminated water for washing, cooking, and even drinking, resulting in various health issues such as skin diseases and respiratory problems. The pollution has also affected agriculture, with farmers struggling to grow crops due to the poor water quality.
Recognizing the severity of the problem, the Indonesian government has launched several initiatives to clean up the Citarum River. In 2018, President Joko Widodo declared a seven-year plan to clean up the river and ordered 7,000 regular soldiers to regularly clean allocated sections. The government has also supplied 3 million seedlings to the Citarum task force for reforestation efforts. While these initiatives are a positive step, the challenge of enforcing regulations and addressing the root causes of pollution remains.
The future of the Citarum River depends on the successful implementation and enforcement of pollution control measures. With a collective effort from the government, local communities, and industries, there is hope that the river can be restored to its former pristine state, providing a healthy ecosystem and a sustainable source of water for the people of Java.
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Pollution from textile factories and other industries
The Citarum River, also known as the Tarum River, is the longest and largest river in West Java, Indonesia. It is considered one of the most polluted rivers in the world, with high levels of toxic waste and chemical pollutants. The river stretches for almost 300 kilometres and is crucial for the water supply of local livelihoods. However, it has been severely degraded by pollution from various sources, including textile factories and other industries.
Textile factories and other industries have been major contributors to the pollution of the Citarum River. According to various sources, there are around 2,000 industrial facilities located along the riverbed, with many of them being part of the textile industry. These factories discharge large amounts of chemical waste and toxic substances into the river. In 2013, an investigation by Greenpeace found hazardous chemicals, including cadmium, lead, and cobalt, in the wastewater entering the Citarum. Other toxins present in the water include mercury, arsenic, sulphites, nonylphenol, phthalates, PCB 180, paranitrophenol, and tributylphosphate. The high levels of pollution have resulted in the elimination of a significant part of the river's fish population, estimated at 60% since 2008.
The impact of this pollution on the environment and local communities is significant. The water quality has degraded to the extent that it is no longer suitable for drinking or irrigation. Rice yields have dropped, and people living along the river have developed various health issues, including skin diseases, respiratory problems, and other illnesses. The pollution has also affected the ecosystem, with the river containing so little oxygen that it is essentially a "death river".
Efforts have been made to clean up the Citarum River and address the pollution from textile factories and other industries. In 2018, the President of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, launched a seven-year plan to clean up the river and achieve clean drinking water status. The military has also been involved in the cleanup efforts, and there have been initiatives to block outlets conveying polluted wastewater from factories into the river and to install rubbish and water treatment facilities. Additionally, there have been proposals to revise textile industry guidelines to include more parameters for testing effluents and reducing pollution.
However, the cleanup efforts have faced challenges due to a lack of enforcement and regulation, as well as bribery and corruption. Local activists have observed that despite bans and regulations, many factories continue to discharge waste via concealed pipes and illegal drains. Nonetheless, with the river playing such a crucial role in the lives of millions of people, there is an ongoing push for sustainable solutions and effective enforcement of environmental regulations to restore the Citarum River to a healthy state.
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The river is used for fishing, drinking water, and irrigation
The Citarum River is the longest and largest river in West Java, Indonesia. It is relied upon by millions of people for fishing, drinking water, and irrigation. However, it has also been called the world's most polluted river.
The river provides water sources for raw water supply, agricultural irrigation, fisheries, and industrial productions. The waters from the Jatiluhur Dam, the largest reservoir in Indonesia, irrigate vast rice paddies in Karawang and Bekasi, making northern West Java lowlands one of the most productive rice farming areas. The river also makes up around 80% of the surface water available to the people who use it.
However, pollution has severely impacted agriculture, with farmers having to sell their rice paddies for half the normal price. The river is heavily polluted by human activity, with about five million people living in its basin. More than 2,000 industries contaminate 5,020 square miles of the river with lead, mercury, arsenic, and other toxins. Environmentalists have observed that over 20,000 tons of waste and 340,000 tons of wastewater from textile factories are disposed of into the river daily, resulting in the elimination of a significant part of the river's fish population.
The pollution has also affected the drinking water sourced from the river. According to a 2013 study by the Blacksmith Institute, lead levels in the river were 1,000 times worse than US drinking water standards, and levels of other heavy metals such as aluminium, iron, and manganese were above the international average. As a result, many people who depend on the river for drinking water have developed various skin diseases and respiratory issues.
Despite the pollution, fishing is still practised along the river. However, the catch is contaminated with heavy metals and microplastics and is sold and consumed in areas adjacent to the river and in Jakarta.
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People living near the river suffer from skin diseases and respiratory issues
The Citarum River in West Java, Indonesia, is considered one of the most polluted rivers in the world. The river, which is the third-longest in Java, has been contaminated by various sources, including industrial waste, sewage, and plastic pollution. The pollution has had significant negative impacts on the environment and the health of people living nearby.
The river is heavily polluted by human activity, with about five million people living in its basin. The drainage area covers 6,929 square kilometres, and the river makes up around 80% of the surface water available to those who rely on it. The water is used for various purposes, including irrigation, fishing, drinking, and cooking.
The pollution in the Citarum River has led to severe health issues for people living nearby, particularly skin diseases and respiratory problems. A study by the Blacksmith Institute in 2013 found that the river contained lead levels 1,000 times higher than US drinking water standards, as well as high levels of other heavy metals such as aluminium, manganese, and iron. As a result, people living near the river have developed various skin conditions, including scabies and infections. The water quality is so poor that even fishing in the river can be dangerous, with the catch contaminated with heavy metals and microplastics.
In addition to skin diseases, respiratory issues are also prevalent among those living near the Citarum River. Inhaling factory smoke and toxic chemicals has led to respiratory distress and worsened existing conditions such as chronic bronchitis. The air is filled with dioxins and hydrocarbons from coal-fired textile factories, further contributing to the respiratory health risks.
The Indonesian government has recognised the severity of the situation and has implemented measures to address the pollution. In 2018, President Joko Widodo launched a seven-year plan to clean up the river, involving the military and the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs. Reforestation efforts are also underway, with the aim of planting 125 million trees in the vicinity of the river to help reduce flooding and improve water quality. However, the success of these initiatives remains to be seen, and in the meantime, people living near the Citarum River continue to suffer from the health consequences of its severe pollution.
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Efforts to clean up the river, including reforestation and government initiatives
The Citarum River in Indonesia has been dubbed the world's "dirtiest river" by the World Bank. In response to the river's degradation, President Joko Widodo initiated a seven-year clean-up campaign in February 2018, putting the Citarum in West Java into the hands of the military, while the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs leads strategic direction. The army now has the right to “improve, revoke, and/or alter existing regulatory provisions”, indicating that, when it comes to the environment, conventional law enforcement has been deemed to have failed in the region.
The coordinator of the Citarum Sector 1 cleansing program, Colonel Yanto, estimated that reforestation would require 125 million trees—consisting of 25 million hardwood plants and 100 million shrubs—to be planted in the immediate vicinity of the river. The hope is that, in the next five years, Indonesia can end the floods partly caused by clogged garbage and overflowing rivers.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has also been involved in efforts to clean up the Citarum Basin. In 2008, ADB committed to providing Indonesia with a $500 million, multiyear loan to finance a wide-ranging cleanup and rehabilitation plan for the Citarum River basin. The money is being used to clean the Citarum River and the West Tarum Canal, which connects it to Indonesia's capital, Jakarta. In Bekasi, a city in greater Jakarta, ADB has helped finance a major engineering project to keep the canal water clean on its journey to the capital by running it beneath the Bekasi River, one of the most polluted in the Citarum region.
Local authorities and communities are also partnering to promote the economic and health potential of cleaning up Citarum through recycling and education projects. Pius Suratman Kartasasmita of the Parahyangan Catholic University has worked with communities along the rivers in Bantar Caringin for nearly two decades to improve water quality and educate people about the importance of a clean and healthy river.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the Citarum River is still considered one of the most polluted rivers in the world.
The Citarum River is heavily polluted by human activity. The river stretches for almost 300 kilometres and provides a crucial water supply for local livelihoods. Along the riverbed are 2,000 industrial facilities, mostly from the textile industry, that dump 280 tonnes of toxins in the river daily. The river is also used by farmers to irrigate their crops and by households who dump sewage waste and plastics into the river.
In 2018, the President of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, launched a seven-year plan to clean up the whole river and achieve clean drinking-water status, ordering 7,000 regular soldiers to clean up allocated sections of the river regularly. The World Bank has estimated that Indonesia will gain a massive range of benefits from a clean Citarum River, including improved drinking water, improved crop yields, and the revitalisation of the ecosystem and volume of fish in the river.
