Sea Water for Water Crisis Anticipation
Earth, the planet where we live, is often called the water planet. The name is given because the Earth is a planet that has water up to 70 % on its surface.
However, with the abundance of water can it satisfy the human need without limit? The answer is certainly No. Alternative sources of water must be found for acceptable consumption. The current environmental pollution and land use have caused drought and reduced water supply that is not consumable.
It is the IPB researchers: Prof. P Bonar Pasaribu, Dr. Djisman M, and Dr. Jonson L Gaol, who have studied and explored the deep sea water in Indonesia. This research results could be used as alternative sources of water for consumption in addition to land water. In the Coffee Morning held by Public Relations of IPB Executive Secretary, (6/10), Prof. P Bonar Pasaribu, and Dr. Jonson L Gaol presented their research results.
Dr. Jonson explained that this deep-sea water with its content o mineral when processed properly is very important and useful for the supply of drinking water for survival and human health.
"The supply of deep-sea mineral water is also strategic in the anticipation of possible clean water crisis in the future. Deep sea water after the desalination process also provides a by-product, namely a high-quality salt. Besides, deep sea water can be used for a variety of purposes, for example for aquaculture, agriculture, cosmetic ingredients, medicines, spa and as air conditioning," he explained
According to him, one advantages of deep sea water is that it is rich in minerals needed by the human body unlike the pure water in packages that do not contain minerals.
Because of its benefits, then the industry of deep sea water has grown in Hawaii and Japan since about 20 years ago, and about 5 years ago South Korea, Taiwan, and India also developed such industries.
"In Japan alone there are 13 brands of mineral deep sea water in packaging (bottled drinking water) on the market now," he said.
The deep sea water is pumped out from the depth of more than 300 meters. This layer is located below the thermocline layer and under eufotik layer. The water of this depth has the temperature of around 10 degrees centigrade, is clean, rich in nutrient and minerals, and stable.
The condition of deep sea water is different from that at the surface (the eufotik layer or zone) that is strongly influenced by the processes such as photosynthesis, pollution, sediment suspension and blooming algae. Thus, the deep sea water is suitable source of drinking water.
Meanwhile, the experience of Prof. Bonar Pasaribu who studied in Japan for 8 years and saw the development of the marine industry there for the past 35 years has inspired him to develop not only marine science and technology education in Indonesia but also the marine industry, one of which is the deep sea water industry.
In collaboration with Mr. Kimiya Homma, a colleague from his alma mater (University of Tokai, Japan), they pioneered the deep sea water industry in Bali.
"After nearly two years of studies, the third year is the start of building the deep sea water industry in Bali," says Prof. Bonar.
The Industry that they have set up is still in the laboratory scale to produce a thousand liters of deep-sea mineral water per day. After laboratory testing and obtaining various permits, the first deep-sea mineral water in packages or bottles in Indonesia is ready to be distributed to the public.
This product of bottled drinking water is under the PT Omega Tirta Kyowa with the trademark "Oceanis" has begun to be marketed on the island of Bali. (Mtd)
