Batam, Riau Islands, will build a wastewater management center to improve the city’s santiation, an official says.
“Batam really needs wastewater treatment considering the number of industries that exist in the city,” Batam Environmental Impact Management Agency head Dendi Purnomo said on Wednesday as quoted by Antara news agency.
According to Dendi, the Batam administration proposed building a wastewater management center to the National Development Planning Board (Bappenas), which responded positively.
The center would process industrial and household wastewater from Nagoya, Baloi and Batam City, which would invite foreign and local investors to help it build and manage the center.
“Some investors have expressed their interest, but we are still waiting for the board’s approval,” Dendi said.
Dendi said that the city’s management of wastewater and household was far from ideal and needed to be better managed.
“Look at Sei Jodoh. The water color is black and smells bad—you can smell it every time you pass by,” Dendi said.
“Where can we dispose it? This is an island. The waste needs to be managed,” he added.
The free-trade zone of Batam houses dozens of industrial centers and almost 70 shipyard companies along its coast.
