Never in the history the Martapura river upstream, namely in Sungai Tabuk, contaminated by saline. Now due to a prolonged drought it has been contaminated with salt,"Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan (AntaranewsKalsel) - Director of PDAM Bandarmasih, Banjarmasin, Ir Muslih declared the territory is threatened with drinking water emergency, because Martapura river a foundation of raw water was contaminated by saline.
"Never in the history the Martapura river upstream, namely in Sungai Tabuk, contaminated by saline. Now due to a prolonged drought it has been contaminated with salt," he told reporters in Banjarmasin on Saturday.
According to him, two days ago the laboratory results salinity in the river water of Sungai Tabuk only 5 milligrams per liter, now 60 milligrams per liter. Just imagine if the next ten days without rain, it estimates will reach 1,000 milligrams per liter, he said.
When the salinity reaches 1,000 per liter it will be difficult to be used as raw water for drinking water treatment, because ideally just 250 milligrams per liter. Means, if it is to happen, then it could be the distribution of drinking water to the people stopped. It called drinking water emergency, he said.
According to him it is difficult to find alternative sources of raw water other than Martapura River, while the salinity in the downstream on the Martapura River like Sungai Bilu can no longer be left unharmed because the salt content of 5,000 milligrams per liter.
Except for the use of water in Riam Kanan irrigation which is abundant of Riam Kanan dam. But it is only if the entire activity of pond fish farming using irrigation stopped, because there is the potential for raw water around 4,000 liters per hour.
This option seems difficult because there are about 4,000 fish ponds that business units may not want to be stopped, he said.
Therefore the taps company immediately come to the mayor or governor of South Kalimantan to find solutions to overcome the threat of the drinking water emergency.
Pewarta: Hasan Zainudin: Mahdani
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