Water Pollution In Indonesia: Understanding The Root Causes

Water pollution is a significant environmental issue in Indonesia, threatening the health of local people and the environment. While Indonesia boasts lush landscapes and biologically rich rainforests, many Indonesian families struggle with inadequate access to safe water and sanitation. Water pollution in Indonesia is caused by several factors, including industrial waste, agricultural runoff, and domestic waste. These sources introduce chemicals, heavy metals, plastics, and sewage into water bodies, contaminating drinking water sources and causing severe health issues, especially among children. Poor sanitation and open defecation further exacerbate the problem, leading to the spread of waterborne diseases and impacting public health, biodiversity, and the economy. With national targets for universal access to safe water and sanitation by 2024, Indonesia is working towards addressing these challenges and improving the lives of its citizens.

Industrial waste

Indonesia is the world's fourth most populous country, with 275 million people, and has Southeast Asia's largest economy. Despite some improvements, water pollution remains a significant environmental issue in the country. Industrial waste is a key source of water pollution in Indonesia, with severe contamination of rivers and coastal areas due to industrial discharges.

The industrial sector in Indonesia contributes significantly to river pollution by disposing of unprocessed waste into water bodies. This waste includes chemicals and heavy metals, which have far-reaching impacts on public health, biodiversity, and the economy. The presence of these pollutants in water sources leads to the spread of waterborne diseases, with one in four children under five in Indonesia suffering from diarrhoea, the leading cause of child mortality in the country.

In addition to health risks, industrial waste pollution in Indonesia's rivers and lakes disrupts aquatic ecosystems and harms industries dependent on clean water, such as fisheries. For example, in the Citarum River, more than 60% of fish populations decreased in 2008 due to damage to the river ecosystem caused by industrial waste. The rice fields irrigated by this river also face contamination, impacting both the environment and food security.

The Indonesian government has implemented regulations to address illegal waste disposal and industrial waste management, but enforcement remains a challenge. Limited waste management facilities and insufficient monitoring from authorities contribute to the persistent problem of industrial players violating waste disposal standards.

To effectively combat water pollution from industrial waste, it is crucial to enforce regulations, improve waste management infrastructure, and ensure the proper treatment of wastewater before discharge into water bodies. These measures will help protect public health, preserve biodiversity, and support industries reliant on clean water sources.

Agricultural runoff

Indonesia is the fourth most populous country in the world, with a population of 275 million people. The country's rapid population growth, urbanization, and economic development have led to an increased demand for water and land, which has negatively impacted water quality.

Agricultural storm water discharges refer to pollutant runoff from agriculture that occurs during storm flow conditions. Even in controlled environments like the United States, the distinction between point and non-point sources of pollution can be unclear and tend to be defined by legal rather than technical meanings. In most countries, animal feeding operations are treated as non-point sources, which are challenging to regulate as they are influenced by hydrological conditions and are not easily measured or controlled.

In Indonesia, the National Movement for Water Resources Management Partnership (GNKPA) was launched in 2005 to address water pollution and sustainable development. The GNKPA aims to integrate programs and actions related to water resources, agricultural lands, and forestry. However, the implementation of integrated water resources management (IWRM) may face technical and managerial challenges due to the complex issues surrounding water quality and quantity.

To mitigate agricultural runoff, Indonesia can consider implementing best management practices (BMPs) for landowners and farmers. These practices can include voluntary clean water guidance, which helps landowners and farmers protect water quality and meet clean water standards. Additionally, local conservation districts can collaborate with agricultural communities to implement solutions that support healthy farms and clean water. By addressing agricultural runoff, Indonesia can improve water quality and reduce the health risks associated with contaminated water sources.

Poor sanitation

Indonesia is the fourth most populous country in the world, with a population of 275 million people. It is also Southeast Asia's largest economy. However, despite its economic growth, the country struggles with poor health and inadequate infrastructure. This has resulted in poor sanitation, with about 192 million Indonesians lacking access to safe water and 14 million lacking access to safe toilets.

Open defecation is a significant issue in Indonesia, with almost 25 million people practising it. This contributes to water source contamination and exposes others to diarrhoeal diseases. A 2017 survey of drinking water in Yogyakarta, an affluent urban centre in Java, found that 89% of water sources and 67% of household drinking water were contaminated by faecal bacteria. This demonstrates that water quality is poor regardless of socio-economic conditions.

Indonesia has made moderate but steady progress in improving access to improved water supply and sanitation. From 1990 to 2015, the rate of access to sanitation facilities nearly doubled, increasing from 35% to 61%. Additionally, from 2006 to 2015, the rate of access to improved sanitation grew at 6.5% annually. However, in 2015, nearly 100 million people, mostly from rural areas, still lacked access to improved sanitation.

To address these challenges, organizations like UNICEF and USAID are working to improve access to safe water and sanitation in Indonesia. UNICEF focuses on high-level advocacy, political will, and aligning WASH policies with ground realities, while also promoting behaviour change through peer-to-peer learning and social mobilization in marginalized communities. USAID has helped millions of Indonesians improve their water supply and provided better sanitation to hundreds of thousands of people. Additionally, the Indonesian government has committed to achieving universal access to basic water and sanitation through market-based approaches, such as microfinance institutions and expanding partnerships with utilities and service providers.

Open defecation

A 2017 survey of drinking water in Yogyakarta, an affluent urban area in Java, revealed alarming levels of faecal contamination, with 89% of water sources and 67% of household drinking water contaminated by faecal bacteria. This situation is not unique, as water quality is generally poor across Indonesia, regardless of socio-economic conditions. The issue is further exacerbated by the low rate of wastewater treatment, with only 7% of Indonesia's wastewater being treated.

The Indonesian government has set ambitious targets to address this issue, aiming for universal access to safe water and sanitation by 2024. They have been working to accelerate the Ministry of Health's national sanitation programme, STBM (Community-Based Total Sanitation), to achieve this goal. Additionally, efforts have been made to enhance fund flows for creating and improving sanitation access, such as through Islamic charity funds and central government instructions.

UNICEF also plays a crucial role in supporting the Indonesian government's efforts. They promote social behaviour change through high-level advocacy, engagement in partnerships, and social mobilisation in marginalised communities where open defecation is widespread. They also work with primary schools and surrounding communities to strengthen hygiene behaviours and improve access to safe water and sanitation.

However, achieving safely managed sanitation faces challenges, including changing behaviours and creating a new national social norm that supports it. Building latrines and ensuring safe faecal waste management, along with proper handwashing practices, are essential steps to improving community health and reducing water pollution caused by open defecation.

Untreated wastewater

Indonesia is the world's fourth most populous country, with 275 million people. It is also home to some of the planet's most biologically rich landscapes. However, many Indonesian families cannot afford access to safe water, and the country struggles with water pollution.

Vella Rohmayani also emphasised that water contaminated by human faeces contains high levels of germs and pathogens, including E. coli bacteria, which can trigger various infectious diseases such as diarrhoea, dysentery, typhus, and cholera. Diarrhoeal diseases are a leading cause of child mortality in Indonesia, with a quarter of all children under five suffering from diarrhoea.

The problem of untreated wastewater is not limited to drinking water sources but also affects groundwater. Groundwater contamination can occur through the seepage process or contamination from septic tanks, waste disposal sites, livestock manure, irrigation canals, and rivers.

Indonesia's rivers are also significantly impacted by untreated wastewater. People who do not have access to proper waste management services from the government often dispose of their waste, including household and industrial waste, directly into rivers. This waste contains organic and inorganic matter, as well as hazardous materials, which contribute to water pollution.

While the Indonesian government has implemented regulations to embargo illegal waste disposal in rivers and outlined procedures for industrial waste disposal, enforcement remains a challenge. Limited waste management facilities and insufficient monitoring from authorities contribute to the persistent pollution of water sources.

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