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Water volume at Katulampa sluice gate decreases drastically
The Katulampa sluice gate, a major water source for residents of Bogor, Depok and Jakarta, has recorded a significant decrease in water since June.
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The water volume at the Katulampa sluice gate has decreased significantly since last month. (JP/Theresia Sufa)
As Java enters the dry season, the volume of water at the Katulampa sluice gate, which is mostly used for irrigation, has decreased significantly since the middle of June.
Katulampa sluice gate attendant Andi Sudirman said on Tuesday that the water volume in the Ciliwung River had begun to decrease drastically in the middle of June and continued to do so.
Normally, the Ciliwung water volume at the Katulampa sluice gate is 4000-5000 liters per second, but currently it’s only 2500-2700 liters per second.
“If [2700 liters per second] is the available water volume, 2500 liters of that will be channeled into irrigation and 200 liters will flow into the Ciliwung; if only 2500 liters per second is available, then 2300 liters are channeled into irrigation and 200 liters flow into the Ciliwung for its ecosystem,” said Andi.
The water flowing into the Ciliwung (for its ecosystem) is used by people living on the riverbanks for their daily needs, and by the city-owned water company of Bogor regency, PDAM Bogor.
“A massive amount of water flows toward irrigation, because water from the Katulampa sluice gate is mainly for irrigation, fulfilling the needs of the Bogor Botanical Garden and Bogor Palace. The water is carefully inspected [to ensure it is] free of trash,” Andi said.
Furthermore, the irrigation water is used for farming in Bogor and Depok and for the daily needs of residents living near the irrigation canals, including for industrial purposes.
An official at the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), Amas, says the Plant and Garden Conservation Research Center (PKT) of Bogor Botanical Garden, which is under the jurisdiction of LIPI, requires water especially in the dry season.
Because of the importance of water for the garden, LIPI has been assisted since 2006 by the Public Works and Housing Ministry to build water pipes from Katulampa to the garden, which stretches more than 7 kilometers. (tru)
