Citarum River Pollution: Causes And Human Impact

The Citarum River in Indonesia is considered one of the most polluted rivers in the world. It is the longest and largest river in West Java, supporting the food, water, and electricity supply for 25 million people. Decades of pollution have contaminated the river with chemical waste and rubbish, causing severe health issues and environmental degradation. The primary sources of pollution are the more than 2,000 industrial facilities, particularly textile factories, that line the river, discharging toxic waste and untreated wastewater directly into the water. In addition, household waste, agricultural runoff, and erosion contribute to the pollution. The Indonesian government has initiated several river revitalisation programs, including the Citarum Harum, to address the issue and improve water quality.

Industrial waste

The Citarum River in Indonesia is considered one of the most polluted rivers in the world. It is the longest and largest river in West Java, stretching for 270-300 kilometres and providing crucial water supply for local livelihoods. The river supports the food, water, and electricity supply for 25 million people, irrigating hundreds of thousands of hectares of rice fields and supplying the nation's largest reservoir.

However, the river has been put under immense pressure by industry and human activity. One of the main sources of pollution is industrial waste from the thousands of waste-producing factories located along its course, particularly from the textile industry. These factories discharge enormous amounts of chemical and toxic waste directly into the river, including lead, mercury, arsenic, and other toxins. In addition, the wastewater from these factories contains high levels of faecal bacteria, with levels more than 5,000 times the mandatory limits, and heavy metals such as aluminium, iron, and manganese above the international average.

The impact of this industrial pollution is severe. It has led to a significant decline in the river's fish population, estimated at 60% since 2008. The water quality has deteriorated to the point that it is non-drinkable, and the pollution has affected agriculture, with farmers forced to sell their rice paddies for half their normal price. The pollution has also had direct health impacts on the local population, with people suffering from skin problems and other health issues due to exposure to contaminated water.

To address this issue, the Indonesian government has launched several river revitalisation and cleaning programmes, such as the Citarum Harum programme, with the goal of making the river's water drinkable by 2025. These programmes include regulating and treating wastewater discharge from factories, extracting toxic sediment, reforesting surrounding mountains, and promoting responsible business practices. The programmes have received support from various organisations, including the International Monetary Fund and the Asian Development Bank, which committed $500 million to finance the river's rehabilitation.

Household waste

The Citarum River in Indonesia is considered one of the most polluted rivers in the world. It is the longest and largest river in West Java, stretching for 270-300 kilometres and providing a crucial water supply for 25 million people. It also irrigates thousands of hectares of rice fields and supplies the nation's largest reservoir.

The Indonesian government has recognised the severity of the problem and has implemented several river clean-up programs. In 2018, the government established the Citarum Harum, a seven-year river revitalisation program with the goal of making the Citarum's water drinkable by 2025. This program includes reforesting surrounding mountains, extracting toxic sediment, regulating wastewater discharge, and environmental education projects. Soldiers have been cleaning allocated sections of the river and installing rubbish and water treatment facilities.

The clean-up efforts have received support from various organisations, including the International Monetary Fund, the Asian Development Bank, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The UNDP has been working with businesses along the Citarum River to adopt more responsible practices and carry out human rights and environmental due diligence. Despite these collective actions, more needs to be done to solve the issue and enforce sustainable practices.

Lack of regulation and enforcement

The Citarum River in Indonesia is considered one of the most polluted rivers in the world. It is the longest and largest river in West Java, providing ecosystem services to thousands of people. The river's pollution is caused by a variety of factors, including industrial waste, agricultural runoff, and household waste.

The textile industry, in particular, has been identified as a major contributor to the river's pollution. With more than 2,000 textile factories located along the riverbed, the industry has been accused of using illegal 'ghost drains' to dump wastewater containing lead, mercury, arsenic, and other toxins into the river. The Indonesian government has struggled to enforce regulations and hold these industries accountable for their actions, in part due to challenges such as a lack of coordination at the local level and bribes paid by factories to avoid compliance.

In addition to industrial waste, the lack of regulation and enforcement has also impacted the management of household waste. Many residents along the river basins are poor and lack the financial resources to install proper sewage systems or water treatment facilities. The government has not provided recycling facilities, leading to garbage and plastic waste ending up in the river. This has resulted in the accumulation of plastic and solid waste in the river, causing shallow water depths and contributing to regular flooding in areas near the Citarum River.

The Indonesian government has recognized the urgency of the situation and has implemented various river clean-up programs and revitalization projects. In 2018, the government launched the Citarum Harum, a seven-year river revitalization program with the ambitious goal of making the Citarum's water drinkable by 2025. This program includes reforestation, extraction of toxic sediment, regulation of wastewater discharge, and environmental education projects. While these efforts are a step in the right direction, the success of these initiatives will depend on effective enforcement and a collective effort from the government, businesses, and civil society.

Livestock and agricultural runoff

The Citarum River in Indonesia is considered one of the most polluted rivers in the world. It is relied upon by millions for their food, water, and electricity supply. The river is heavily polluted by human activity, with about 5 million people living in its basin and thousands of waste-producing factories based along its course.

One of the main sources of pollution in the Citarum River is livestock and agricultural runoff. Livestock contributes to high levels of organic waste in the river, which has detrimental effects on the aquatic ecosystem. The organic waste from livestock leads to algae blooms and uncontrolled water hyacinth growth. This excessive plant growth causes oxygen depletion and blocks light for aquatic organisms, negatively impacting their health and survival.

Agricultural practices also play a significant role in the pollution of the Citarum River. Farmers in the area rely on the river to irrigate their crops, and the contaminated water has taken a toll on agriculture. The polluted water, used to irrigate vast rice paddies, has resulted in decreased rice yields and affected the quality of the produce. The rice fields themselves also contribute to the pollution, as the water used for irrigation becomes contaminated with pesticides and other agricultural chemicals, which then flow back into the river.

The accumulation of agricultural waste and runoff in the river has led to soil erosion and sedimentation issues. Toxic sediments have built up in the riverbed, further contaminating the water and impacting the health of those who depend on it. The Indonesian government's river revitalization program includes efforts to extract these toxic sediments and combat soil erosion to improve water quality and mitigate the effects of agricultural runoff.

It is important to address the pollution caused by livestock and agricultural practices to restore the health of the Citarum River and ensure the well-being of the communities and ecosystems that depend on it.

Urbanization

The Citarum River in Indonesia is one of the world's most polluted rivers. Twenty-five million people live within its basin, relying on the river as their primary source of water. However, the river has been choked by chemicals and rubbish due to decades of pollution.

Additionally, the textile industry, a significant economic driver in Indonesia, has contributed significantly to the river's pollution. Many of the factories located along the Citarum specialize in dying textiles, often for Western companies. It is estimated that 90% of these factories lack adequate waste treatment facilities, resulting in the discharge of 34,000 tonnes of untreated textile runoff into the river annually. This runoff contains high concentrations of toxic heavy metals, including lead, mercury, iron, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, and manganese. Lead levels in the river have been reported to exceed safe drinking water standards by up to 1,000 times.

The impact of urbanization on the river's pollution is also evident in the lack of proper sanitation infrastructure in many of the communities along its banks. The river is used as a natural sewage system, with an estimated 35.5 tonnes of human waste and 65 tonnes of livestock waste dumped into it daily. This has led to dangerously high levels of faecal bacteria in the water, further exacerbating the health risks for those who rely on the river for their daily needs.

The Indonesian government has recognized the urgency of addressing the Citarum River's pollution and has implemented several initiatives to improve the situation. In 2018, the government established the Citarum Harum, a seven-year river revitalization program with the ambitious goal of making the river's water drinkable by 2025. This program includes reforesting surrounding mountains, extracting toxic sediment, regulating wastewater discharge, and environmental education projects.

Additionally, the government has collaborated with universities, local communities, NGOs, and the global research community to develop transdisciplinary approaches to river transformation. These initiatives aim to integrate urban design, sustainability transitions, and circular economy principles to restore the river and improve the lives of those dependent on it.

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