Jakarta is a bustling metropolis of more than 10 million known for its vibrant culture. But it’s grappling with a severe water crisis.
Indonesia’s meteorological department has warned the country could face a prolonged drought this year. It’s been projected that Indonesia could plunge into a clean water crisis by 2040.
The combination of extreme weather, pollution and underinvestment in water infrastructure is already pushing cities like Jakarta to the brink.
Jakarta’s water system faces myriad challenges that make it unsafe to consume directly from the tap, including excessive levels of salt likely due to seawater intrusion into groundwater wells along with high levels of manganese and iron compounds.
Indonesia’s capital relies on various water sources that are frequently polluted by industrial and domestic waste.
With only 15 percent of households having access to adequate drinking water as of 2020, the city’s residents are already grappling with a deteriorating water supply system, raising concerns about the future of clean water in one of Southeast Asia’s largest urban centres.
But perhaps the solutions to Jakarta’s water woes could be found by looking to Europe.
Unsafe to drink
Historically, rivers provided an easy drinking water solution, but in Jakarta rampant pollution from industrial and domestic waste has made them unusable.
The city’s underdeveloped and outdated water system leaves much of the population dependent on bottled water or polluted groundwater sources.
DKI Jakarta Regional Regulation appointed PT PAM Jaya to provide piped clean water for Jakarta residents. Water quality is regulated by the Ministry of Health.
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Jakarta’s ageing infrastructure and lack of investment mean that even treated water often falls short of safety standards by the time it reaches the taps in people’s homes.
In 1997, operation of the piped water distribution was then transferred from PAM Jaya to the two private companies for 25 years – PT PAM Lyonnaise Jaya (PALYJA) and PT Thames PAM Jaya. At the end of 2023, PT PAM Jaya resumed full control of the water supply system.
While water from the river is treated and adheres to regulations, it cannot be consumed from the tap as it does not meet the Indonesian National Standard for drinking water.
However, even this move has been widely criticised for its inefficiency, as only 67 per cent of households can currently receive piped water. The rest must rely on contaminated water sources.
During the dry season in 2023, 18 districts in Jakarta faced water shortages, sparking a civil lawsuit against privatisation.
Lessons from Europe
Unlike European cities such as Vienna and Berlin, where stringent regulations and advanced infrastructure ensure safe drinking water, Jakarta struggles to meet the desired requirements for potable water.
The European Union’s Drinking Water Directive, for example, regulates the quality of tap water with rigorous standards and frequent testing including improved monitoring for emerging pollutants like microplastics and endocrine-disrupting chemicals.
In contrast, Jakarta’s ageing infrastructure and lack of investment mean that even treated water often falls short of safety standards by the time it reaches the taps in people’s homes.
Efforts to improve Jakarta’s water system are underway, but with an 89 per cent reliance on bottled water for safe drinking, there’s still a long way to go.
From river water to recycling water
Implementing large-scale water reuse and recycling could alleviate some of the pressure on Jakarta’s water supplies, but it will require a cultural shift and significant investment in infrastructure.
In Europe, the management of rainwater and wastewater is also crucial to maintaining the high standards of drinking water quality and ensuring environmental sustainability.
Rainwater harvesting systems in Europe can save between 20 and 100 per cent of non-potable water, significantly reducing energy demands and decreasing tap water use by one-third for household applications such as toilet flushing.
Despite the Indonesian government’s new regulations on water reuse, scepticism and cultural barriers such as the stigma around human waste in the river remain major obstacles to the adoption of sustainable water practices in Jakarta.
Public reluctance, despite a 2010 fatwa from the Indonesian Council of Ulama affirming the halal status of recycled water, means the city is not maximising its water resources. For example, if we can use the recycled greywater in the Istiqlal Mosque, it can save clean water up to 35 per cent.
Indonesia’s water crisis, particularly in Jakarta, underscores the urgent need for modernisation and long-term planning.
Dangers of climate change
Without significant investment in water infrastructure, millions will continue to consume unsafe drinking water, and the country risks falling further behind as climate change accelerates water scarcity.
Economically, water scarcity, worsened by climate change could reduce GDP by up to 6 per cent in some regions, drive migration, and trigger conflicts.
When governments address water shortages by improving efficiency and reallocating just 25 per cent of water to higher-value uses, such as more efficient agricultural practices, water losses can decrease significantly, and in some regions, may be eliminated altogether.
The challenge lies not only in upgrading water systems but also in addressing societal resistance to water reuse, as urbanisation increases the demand for water.
As more people move to urban areas — expected to encompass 68 per cent of the global population by 2050 — ensuring equitable access to clean water becomes crucial.
Water use and reuse is one of the highlighted issues at the upcoming COP29 conference and challenges such as equitable access, sustainable management of resources and the integration of innovative water technologies into existing infrastructure remain pressing concerns for many nations.
Eka Permanasari is an Associate Professor of Urban Design at Monash University, Indonesia and the Monash Urban Transformation Hub. Her research spans across Germany, Australia and Indonesia, showcasing her extensive expertise in climate change, urban transformation, and sustainable development.
Denis Teoman is an Adjunct Assistant Professor in Urban Design at Monash University Indonesia. His research interests include sustainable urban mobility and development, green economy policies, and the integration of environmental considerations into urban planning and design.
This article is part of a special report on water reuse, produced in collaboration with The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) in New Delhi.
Originally published under Creative Commons by 360info™.
