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Four desalination plants commence operation in Thousand Islands
The desalination plants are located on Payung, Pramuka, Panggang and Kelapa Dua islands.
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An official checks a water treatment facility using Seawater Reverse Osmosis (SWRO) technology in the Mandalika special economic zone in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara. (Antara Photo/Ahmad Subaidi)
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n an attempt to deal with water scarcity on Jakarta's outer islands, the city administration inaugurated seawater desalination plants on four islands in Thousand Islands regency on Wednesday.
The desalination plants, which use the Seawater Reverse Osmosis (SWRO) system, are located on Payung, Pramuka, Panggang and Kelapa Dua islands. Construction of the plants commenced last year.
The SWRO system converts seawater into freshwater by using a semipermeable membrane. The process is energy-intensive as it involves a high-pressure pump.
Jakarta Water Management Agency head Juaini Yusuf said other technology called brackish water reverse osmosis (BWRO) was already being used on some islands in the Thousand Islands.
"But BWRO use is limited to water for drinking and cooking purposes. Water scarcity is common in the Thousand Islands, especially during the dry season, which means residents have to buy water [in plastic containers]," he said in a speech on Payung Island on Wednesday.
Instead of seawater, the BWRO treats groundwater, using a process similar to the SWRO system.
In addition to the new SWRO plants, Juaini said the agency had installed water pipes for nearly 1,000 households on the aforementioned islands so that clean water was accessible in their houses. This differs from the BWRO plant, in which residents have to visit the site to obtain treated water.
