The Barito River Basin Pollution Concern

By Ulul Maskuriah

Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan (Antaranews) - Pollution in the Barito River Basin that crosses South and Central Kalimantan due to mining is increasingly alarming.

Head of the Banjarmasin Regional Environmental Agency (BLHD) M Ikhlas here on Monday revealed water quality testing conducted by Kalimantan Ecoregion Management Centre of the State Ministry of Environment (KLH) last November, the value of Biochemical Oxygen Demand ( BOD ) in the Barito river basin reached 85747.93 kg/days.

In addition, the Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) reached 107,967.40 kg/day and Total Suspended Solid (TSS) reached  40128.45kg/day.  Both COD and TSS used to measure conventional pollutants. 

Barito river basin water sampling conducted in South Barito, 

East Barito, and Kapuas in Central Kalimantan, also in Tabalong, North Hulu Sungai Balangan, Cental Hulu Sungai, South Hulu Sungai, Tapin, Batola, Banjar District, and Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan.

According to him , the distribution of potential pollution load tends to be concentrated in the lower reaches of the 

Barito river basin. " Based on the parameter values of BOD and COD, Banjar District is the most potential pollutant load, which amounted to 19.77 percent and 26.30 percent, " he said.

While TSS parameter values, then the highest is Banjarmasin, 24.07 percent.

According to Ikhlas , potential pollution load as well as the contribution of each source of pollution for each Barito 

River Basin pollution were from mining industry, households, farms, hospitals, hotels , as well as livestock and fisheries.

"Based on these findings, the Barito river basin water unfit for human consumption," he said.

As for the drinking water it needs further treatment. As a result, water companies with raw materials derived from the Barito river basin water must expend higher cost to process water to be consumed.