Bali – The 10th World Water Forum (WWF) in Bali is an opportunity for Indonesia to show its success in preparing water infrastructure, as well as becoming a platform for gaining international support in sustainable water management.
Lecturer in Environmental Chemistry, FMIPA, Udayana University, Dr. KG Dharma Putra, stated that Indonesia is quite successful in managing water, especially in the Bali region.
“Bali is still very fortunate because its water resource potential is quite abundant with the presence of quite a lot of springs and lakes too. “Moreover, the government is preparing and providing adequate water storage, such as the construction of reservoirs which have also been carried out in several places to help prepare food for the people of Bali,” explained Dr. Dharma Putra.
However, Dr. Dharma Putra also emphasized that Indonesia still needs to improve its ability to manage water so that the mandate of the 1945 Constitution, article 33 paragraph (3), that the earth, water and the wealth contained therein are controlled by the state, can be implemented properly.
“Indonesia’s ability to manage water still needs to be improved so that the mandate of the 1945 Constitution can be implemented properly. “During the rainy season, we often hear about landslides and river water overflowing and flowing directly into the sea without any effort to store it,” he explained.
Bali, with its abundant water resource potential, is an example of how good water management can be carried out. The traditional Subak irrigation system in Bali, which is known for its local wisdom, can be a solution for sustainable water management.
“The Balinese people have a philosophy of respect for water based on most religious beliefs which are also very widely known internationally, namely Subak,” explained Dr. Dharma Putra.
“This traditional irrigation system known as Subak has inspired many other countries around the world to implement water management methods based on local wisdom,” he added.
However, Dr. Dharma Putra also acknowledged the challenges of development in Bali, where forest areas and catchment areas are decreasing.
“Spring sources in Bali are at risk because forest areas are decreasing due to massive development, huge land conversion, which cannot be avoided as a consequence of development in Bali,” said the Environmental Chemistry Lecturer at FMIPA at Udayana University. This.
Therefore, Dr. Dharma Putra hopes that the 10th WWF can produce concrete solutions to improve water management in Indonesia, especially in Bali, so that people can utilize the potential of water resources optimally.
“Therefore, efforts to increase catchment areas to store water and use water management technology are certainly very beneficial for water sustainability, so that people can make good use of the potential of water resources,” concluded Dr. Dharma Putra.