Kotabaru learns water management from PT Borneo Indobara Tanah Bumbu

Batulicin, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) - The government officials of Kotabaru, South Kalimantan, visited coal company PT Borneo Indobara (PT BIB) in Tanah Bumbu District to learn water management on the reclaimed land.

"(Their) visit here is to adopt PT Borneo Indobara's CSR program in managing clean water and drinking water from ex-mining ponds (void andaru)," said Head of PT BIB's Mining Engineering Riadi Simka in Batulicin, Sunday.

He explained that they learned how to manage water from former mining pits, converting into a source of clean water according to quality standards and upgrading it into water fit for consumption.

The Andaru clean water program is proof of well-planned and work of mining, as well as good management after the end of mining, so that void ponds can be used and beneficial to the community in sustainable manner.

The andaru water program covering an area of 34.5 hectares, before it is distributed to the community through house connections, is it is firt tested in the lab involving the Tanah Bumbu Environment Office (DLH), and independent testing agency as well as internal PT BIB.

Since 2021 PT BIB has supported the clean water to be used for eight villages in stages, and currently two villages with a total of 1,811 families are using this clean water from andaru mining ponds.

In 2024, PT BIB improved the water quality through Water Treatment Plant (WTP) using good machines making the water suitable for drinking with a pH of 8+. Lab tests have been conducted both internally and through indepent parties.

"The target is eight villages will receive clean and dringking water," said Riadi.

While the management of clean and dringking water is carried out by the community through BUMdes or village-owned enterprise assisted by PT BIB.

Meanwhile, Assistant II of the Kotabaru AdministrationMurdianto considered the visit important.

"This program is to support Kotabaru government's plan to manage mining voids into source of clean water for the community," he said.

Murdianto acknowledged the condition of Kotabaru during dry season, people have difficulty getting clean water.

"We see firsthand how to process water from former mines into celan and ready to drink water. We hope we can implement this program in Kotabaru," said Murdianto.