The Surabaya River, which is a fresh water source for nearly 10 million people in Surabaya, Sidoarjo and Gresik, has a contamination index that is 60 percent higher than the tolerable level.
The river is being soiled by industrial and agricultural waste and thousands of squatters living upstream of Surabaya who dispose thousands of cubic meters of household waste into the river every day.
The pollution level has reached such an extent that city-owned tap water company PT PDAM Surabaya can no longer purify enough water to distribute to all of its customers.
At least 87 industries dump waste into the river, and the 21,930 residents in Sempadan dump 789 tons of household waste into the river everyday.
A test recently conducted by several relevant government offices shows the river has an organic waste content of 5 milligrams per liter, more than 60 percent higher than the tolerable limit of 3 milligrams per liter. The test also reveals the river is contaminated with poisonous chemicals.
"With the condition *of the river* so critical, it is imperative for the government and residents to take action and show a strong commitment to salvage the lives of millions of residents in *Surabaya*, Gresik and Sidoarjo," East Java acting governor Setia Purwaka said at the launch of the "Stop Polluting Kali Surabaya" program in Surabaya on Tuesday.
The program is jointly organized and funded by state-owned river management firm Perum Jasa Tirta I and Surya daily.
Tjoek Walujo Subijanto, president director of Jasa Tirta, said the breakdown of pollution in the river was 60 percent household waste, 30 percent industrial waste and 10 percent agricultural waste.
"This program is aimed at reducing the waste content in anticipation of the prediction that the industrial waste will reach 308 tons per day and the household waste will reach 257 tons per day by 2020," he said.
"PDAM will be able to improve its water-processing capacity from the current 7.5 cubic meters per second to 20 cubic meters per second if two more dams are constructed in the province."
Tjoek called on the public to build their own sanitation facilities and to stop dumping waste into the river.
"The authorities should also impose harsh sanctions against industries dumping their waste into the river," he said.
Surya executive director Rusdi Amral said the program would inform the public about alternative ways to dump garbage, including digging holes in their homes, in addition to supporting the local "regreening" program and sponsoring an intervillage contest to become the village with the cleanest river section.
"With this program, the people will take an active part in preserving the environment along the river and beating pollution," he said.
