3 Fresh Water Sources in Blora Contaminated With Heavy Metal
August 10, 2015
Bentolo Reservoir in Tinapan Village, Tondanan District, Blora, Central Java, is contaminated and can not be used as raw water supply.
The water in Bentolo has been contaminated repeatedly and difficult to control. Based on Tempo’s observation on location, the reservoir water color changed somewhat purple with a pungent odor.
Pollution had caused natural ecosystems, such as plant algae and fish, unable to survive. Even the residents farm animals can not want to drink the water.
"In addition to agricultural land, water from the reservoir is used to meet the needs of life in the Tondanan, Ngunduran, and Ngawen Districts,” said Maskun, a farmer from Tinapan village, when met by Tempo, Saturday, August 8.
As a result of this pollution, the local Blora water company (PDAM) stop taking water for distribution from the reservoir. Meanwhile, local residents have to fetch water from Sendang Putri, a nearby spring and must buy it from PDAM.
Currently the water reservoir can only be used to meet the irrigation of agricultural areas around the site.
Head of Blora Environment Agency Wahyu Agustini confirmed the water contamination in Bentolo reservoir. According to her, the laboratory test results showed heavy metal content in the water. “It seems to come not from the sugar mills, heavy metals do not appear in the sugar mill waste," said Wahyu.
Even so, she mentioned the need a long study to assess the water pollution. The agency has no budget for research. "There are other factors that need to be assessed. However I can not comment much," she said.
Source: en.tempo.co
