Close inspection: Two men inspect the pipes belonging to the Bribin II project located 104 meters underground in Bantul, Yogyakarta. JP/Slamet Susanto
Tens of thousands of Gunungkidul people’s dreams of freedom from dry-season water shortages are coming true, as the Bribin II project is now capable of lifting water from an underground river to the ground surface by means of micro hydro technology.
Eighty liters of water per second can now be brought up to the surface from an underground source, which is expected to meet the clean water demand of more than 75,000 people in part of this regency.
For decades, the clean water crisis — particularly in the dry season — has affected 120,000 residents of Gunungkidul, Yogyakarta. Locals have had to buy water or seek water springs some kilometers away, often walking for hours.
For a tank of 5,000 liters of water, they had to pay up to Rp 125,000 (US$13.87) to Rp 250,000. Every dry season, each family spent Rp 700,000 to Rp 2 million on average on water.
“We’ve sold everything we have to purchase water and survive,” said Lasinem, 65, a resident of Semanu, Gunungkidul. With the Bribin II project, Lasinem hoped piping installations would soon be built to distribute water at an affordable price for residents.
“The water doesn’t reach our homes yet, but has reached our village during tests,” added Lasinem, whose house is located 2 kilometers from the project. The government of Indonesia funded Rp 35 billion of the project while Germany contributed ¤3.2 million.
The parties engaged in the project included Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany, Gadjah Mada University (UGM), Yogyakarta, the Indonesian Islamic University (UII), Yogyakarta, Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), and Sebelas Maret State University (UNS), Surakarta.
To raise water from the underground river, holes were drilled 104 meters deep with a diameter of 2.50 meters. Thereafter, an underground dam was built, as well as pipes for the flow of water to the ground level.
“Water management in Bribin is the first of the kind in the world, though in the beginning it frustrated us,” said Karlsruhe Institute of Technology’s professor, Franz Nestmann, who worked on the project.
Nestmann presented his plan for the area of Gunungkidul to Yogyakarta’s Sultan Hamengkubuwono X in 1998.
Drilling started in 2004, now and again causing frustration as the drills used were damaged on several occasions by rocks.
“It was frustrating but we kept trying. We are no longer under stress and Gunungkidul residents are now happy,” said Nestmann at the inauguration of Bribin II in early March 2010.
The Bribin II project was also delayed for over two years due to the May 2006 earthquake. The disaster that killed about 5,700 people and destroyed over 200,000 houses made some of the pit walls cave in and cover the cavity. Using dynamites, the wall ruins were finally removed and cleared.
In early 2010, after different tests, the Bribin II project was declared successful in March and its management was transferred to the Center of Serayu-Opak River zone.
Public Works Minister Djoko Kirmanto hoped Bribin II would function not only as a water supply but also a natural laboratory where experts could conduct research. “Results of their research are expected to bring about bright ideas to promote the welfare of people living in karst [irregular limestone region with sinkholes, underground streams, and caverns] regions, so far associated with dryness and poverty,” said Djoko Kirmanto.
The project aims to overcome water shortage problems faced by people living in karst regions. He said Indonesia at present had 15.4 million hectares of karst zones inhabited by millions experiencing the same difficulties accessing drinking water.
In terms of operational cost, micro hydro technology is far more economical because it uses no fuel. The water produced is expected to be distributed at a reasonable price without adding any financial burdens local people.
In 1984, Bribin I actually managed to raise water to the surface, but the process was expensive because the diesel oil generators used consumed 200 liters per hour.
Bambang Hargono, the head of the Serayu-Opak River Zone Center, stated his center would only be responsible for the management of equipment and the lifting of water to the ground level. “Water distribution to village homes and its operational cost are handled by the Regional Drinking Water Company [PDAM],” he said.
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