Jakarta. Jakarta gubernatorial candidate Pramono Anung has called for innovative solutions to address the city's pressing clean water crisis, promising to develop new water sources if elected. 

Speaking at a public dialogue organized by the Jakarta Arts Council on Monday, he warned that reliance on the Jatiluhur reservoir alone will not meet the city's needs and could lead to serious water supply issues in the coming years.

"We need new breakthroughs for clean water sources in Jakarta; otherwise, we could face serious water supply issues in five to ten years," he warned.

Pramono emphasized the necessity of additional reservoirs. "The Jatiluhur reservoir alone cannot satisfy our requirements. We need other reservoirs, and some are already being constructed in Banten to support Jakarta," he explained.

While the Ciawi and Sukamahi reservoirs have helped reduce flooding, they do not fully resolve the clean water crisis. "The government has improved the Ciawi and Sukamahi reservoirs and enhanced drainage systems, but these measures have not solved the clean water issue," Anung noted.

He reiterated the need for alternatives beyond the Jatiluhur reservoir to secure Jakarta's water supply. "We must find new solutions for clean water sources in Jakarta; relying solely on Jatiluhur is not viable," he said.

Pramono also highlighted the importance of regulating groundwater use and expanding piped water systems. "Groundwater use must be controlled, and we need to implement piped water systems. Without new breakthroughs, we may face serious clean water challenges in the next five to ten years," he concluded.

In addition to serving as a raw water source for processing and industrial use, Jakarta's rivers are also utilized for domestic activities, fishing, and transportation.

According to data from Jakarta's Environment Agency, the water quality status of rivers in 2022 revealed that 63-78 percent of 120-monitored points showed severe pollution. The pollution index increased from 9.89, which is very high, at river entry points to between 11.91 and 12.23 within Jakarta.

In 2023, rivers with the worst conditions included Cideng, Sunter (middle-lower segment), Petukangan, Sekertaris, Sepak, Grogol (middle-lower segment), Kamal, Buaran, Cakung, and Kalibaru Timur (lower segment), all of which exhibited high pollution index values.