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A look at Jakarta’s water woes

Unseasonable flooding has played havoc with Jakarta’s roads, forcing commuters to sit in traffic for longer times than usual. On June 5 the southern section of the city’s major Outer Ring Road was submerged under more than 40cm of water – the first time in its history, according to news reports.

 

At the same time, heavy rains have added to the amount of silt and debris in Jakarta’s 13 rivers and canals, reducing water flow. The city administration recognizes it must tackle its urban water problems, and it plans to begin dredging this year using a $150 million grant from the World Bank.

 

But dredging will force the city to evict millions of squatter settlements that have popped up along rivers like the Ciliwung. So far, Jakarta has spent $15 million of the World Bank grant to help subsidize housing for residents currently being resettled as part of a flood mitigation program.

 

Also in line with that program was the completion, in January, of the East Flood Canal, which has been under construction for decades. It was initially part of a plan to ring Jakarta by two canals that would divert water from higher elevations around the city and out to sea. But only the West Canal had been operative, and since dredging had occurred only sporadically during that canal’s 80-year lifespan, the waterway was operating well below capacity.

 

Since the East Canal was opened, city administrators say has already reduced flooding in the east of the city by 30 percent and led to a five-fold reduction in the amount of time stagnant water sits after a deluge.

 

It is the job of the Jakarta government to conduct regular maintenance on the city’s rivers, and it has stepped up its commitment to this responsibility in recent years. But still flooding continues.

 

During last year’s Sustainable Jakarta Convention, Governor Fauzi Bowo highlighted the need for better regulation. He said laws need to be readjusted so sub-national governments have more power, and outlined the three main obstacles his administration faces – lack of funding, regulation and capacity to develop projects.

 

Bowo said recently that reducing flooding was feasible through dredging, along with the planned construction of a new drainage system. But improving the city’s water infrastructure could prove a monumental task, since nearly half of the water currently being piped through the system is lost to leaks and illegal hookups.