Professor of IPB: Managed Water Resources with Integrated and Sustainable

In order to celebrate the world Water Day, Board of Professors (DGB), Bogor Agricultural University (IPB) held a press conference at Cafe of Taman Koleksi, Campus of IPB Baranangsiang, Bogor (21/3). The commemoration of the world Water Day this year themed “Water and Jobs: Better Water, Better Jobs”. 

 

One Professor of IPB who contributed his thinking was Prof.Dr. Yusman Syaukat who was also Dean of Faculty of Economics and Management (FEM) IPB. The thinking of Prof. Yusman focused on the problems of water resources management in Indonesia and the efforts of management within the integrated and sustainable water resources management.

 

According to him, the problems of water resources in Indonesia consisted of the balance between supply and demand of water resources, the problem of quantity and quality of water resources, the conservation and management of integrated water resources, the excessive exploitation of ground water, the inefficiency in the utilization of water resources, the commercialization and privatization of water resources.

 

Efficiency aspect was very important in the management of water resources. Efficiency involved two aspects, namely production and distribution. As an example, Local Water Company (PDAM) generally had a fairly high degree of efficiency in the production process, but in terms of water distribution, low efficiency water. This happened because of the high levels of leakage in the water distribution. Leaks were between 30-50 percent from the total volume of water produced. The leak was due to the technical leakage, illegal connection or other factors. This was also the reason of many PDAM in Indonesia which were the losers.

 

The same thing should also be applied in the agriculture. The agricultural sector should be more efficient in using the irrigation water. 

 

The rise of the number of bottled water companies (AMDK) vying to exploit the water resources in particular springs or groundwater had been detrimental to the surrounding community. This was because they had no longer access to utilize the spring will. Decreased water level, reduced the rural irrigation water to irrigate the fields, and many roads were damaged as a result of the operation of the trucks to transport the drinking water.

 

“The purpose of pursuing the economic growth alone has led to social and environmental issues which are very detrimental to the community in the long run. The management of water resources which is integrated and sustainable can not be delayed any longer,” he concluded.(zul)