Martapura River in Banjarmasin City begins to suffer seawater intrusion as dry season has come, said the President Director of government owned tap water company PDAM Bandarmasih Yudha Ahmadi.
The seawater, he said, has not only infiltrated Martapura River here but deeper into the upstream which length to reach 36,5 kilometers.
"In our control currently the seawater intrusion has reached Basirih and RK Ilir area," he pointed out in Banjarmasin, Sunday.
According to him, the salinity level of the Martapura River is now approacing the intake of raw water in Sungai Bilu. "Or about two kilometers distance from part of the intruded river water," Yudha explained.
If drought continues, he said, the salinity may pass above threshold of water to be processed into clean water. In this case, the company has to close Sungai Bilu water intake which has a capacity of 500 liter per second. "30 percent of distribution power to customers will reduce," he said.
Raw water will then be taken from Sungai Tabuk water intake in Banjar District with a capicity of 1,700 liter per second. "It is still lacking to serve 170 thousands customers," he said.
PDAM Bandarmasih, he acknowledged, is now preparing to anticipate raw water crisis by swithing water intake to Riam Kanan Irrigation.
"We (really) expect to have rain these weeks, until it can push back seawater to the mouth of the river," he concluded.
COPYRIGHT © ANTARA News Kalimantan Selatan 2019
The seawater, he said, has not only infiltrated Martapura River here but deeper into the upstream which length to reach 36,5 kilometers.
"In our control currently the seawater intrusion has reached Basirih and RK Ilir area," he pointed out in Banjarmasin, Sunday.
According to him, the salinity level of the Martapura River is now approacing the intake of raw water in Sungai Bilu. "Or about two kilometers distance from part of the intruded river water," Yudha explained.
If drought continues, he said, the salinity may pass above threshold of water to be processed into clean water. In this case, the company has to close Sungai Bilu water intake which has a capacity of 500 liter per second. "30 percent of distribution power to customers will reduce," he said.
Raw water will then be taken from Sungai Tabuk water intake in Banjar District with a capicity of 1,700 liter per second. "It is still lacking to serve 170 thousands customers," he said.
PDAM Bandarmasih, he acknowledged, is now preparing to anticipate raw water crisis by swithing water intake to Riam Kanan Irrigation.
"We (really) expect to have rain these weeks, until it can push back seawater to the mouth of the river," he concluded.
Editor : Mahdani
COPYRIGHT © ANTARA News Kalimantan Selatan 2019