Banjarmasin, (Antaranews.Kalsel) - The problem of drinking water is now haunting the citizens of South Kalimantan Province because the stock is not worth the needs of the community.
Some Regional Water Companies (PDAM) in South Kalimantan region are difficult to find the source of raw materials. Mainstay of raw water for this is still fixated on Martapura River disgorged the Mountains Meratus or territory of Forest Park (Tahura) Sultan Adam.
Though the condition of Tahura, an area of 112 thousand hectares, later becoming damaged, because of forest fires, and suspected illegal logging and illegal mining, and settlement activities.
The evidence of damage was watersheds increasingly reduced the volume of water coming down from the region. Often there is intrusion of sea water into the Martapura River, because of the water pressure is reduced, the salty sea water enter the river upstream.
"When the river water salinity of Martapura above 200 ppm then it so hard to be used as water taps," said President Director of PDAM Banjarmasin, Ir Muslih.
Not just a river salinity problems faced, but also the level of river water turbidity is so high because the particles are concentrated sludge in water indicates the water is not clean after damage in the upper river region.
Turbidity levels for processing into clean water ideally only 50 to 100 per liter, but the results of the laboratory was Martapura River water never reaches 500 to 1000 mto, even the highest cases reached 5000 mto per liter, said Muslih.
Due to deforestation upstream erosion and when it rains the little red soil particles, sand, and dust, and others come late and go into the river continues to flow into the estuary up to Banjarmasin.
Similar complaints came from Banjarbaru and Martapura.
