Ideas for
Jakarta’s Future
by Geoffrey Delin
Hydrologist,
Scientist Emeritus,
U.S. Geological Survey
Supported by the U.S. Water Partnership,
U.S. Embassy, Jakarta, and
U.S. Agency for International Development
Photo credit: Public Radio International; Feri Yadi, a resident of Muara Baru in North Jakarta, stands atop the seawall
Talk Outline
- Scientific data and research needs
for Jakarta
- Potential future strategies for
Jakarta
Photo credit: Ria Tanisa
Scientific Data / Research Needs- Much additional research and
scientific data would be helpful to
develop a more comprehensive
understanding of the groundwater
system and in order to assess land
subsidence in Jakarta;
Image credits: Kdnuggets, InnoArchiTech; PNAS; California Groundwater Coalition; Geotechdata.info
- The ultimate goal is to better
define the causes of land
subsidence in Jakarta.
Scientific Data / Research Needs- It would be helpful to improve the
accuracy and accessibility of
databases, such as for
groundwater pumping rates from
the deep aquifer;
Image credits: Kdnuggets, InnoArchiTech; PNAS; California Groundwater Coalition; Geotechdata.info
- It would be helpful to conduct
laboratory and field experiments to
obtain geotechnical parameters
and obtain a better estimate of the
compaction rates and limits of the
clay or sand confining beds for the
deep aquifer.
Scientific Data / Research Needs
- It would be helpful to conduct
aquifer tests, and other hydraulic
tests, in the field to estimate the
hydraulic properties of the aquifers
and confining beds;
Image credit: yourarticellibrary.com; Norcal Geophysical Consultants Inc; C Tech Development Corporation
- Additional borehole and surface
geophysical data would be
helpful to better define the
hydrogeologic properties of the
underlying aquifers and
confining beds.
Scientific Data / Research Needs
Sources: Galloway et al., 2008; Kooy et al., 2018
Image credit: Enviro Check Australia; expressbusinessdirectory.com; yourarticellibrary.com;
- A groundwater flow model is one of the best tools
used to help answer questions of regional water
use, groundwater flow, and groundwater/surface-
water interaction;
- It would be helpful to build on existing models by
developing more accurate or updated geologic,
groundwater flow, and land subsidence models to
simulate future subsidence rates and their effects in
different development scenarios;
- A program to monitor
the water quality of the
groundwater and
surface water
resources in the
Jakarta area is needed
(DLH) (Kooy et al.,
2018); This will help to
monitor the improvement of water quality as new
water sanitation programs are implemented.
Land Subsidence Monitoring
Source: Bodemdaling bij Deltares, 2012-1013
- Better monitoring,
including additional
extensometers like
this one, are needed in
Jakarta to more
accurately monitor
land subsidence;
- It would be very
helpful to collect the
data frequently to
obtain a continuous
record such as shown
below.
Scientific Data / Research Needs- It would be helpful to improve the
network and monitoring of
groundwater levels in Jakarta;
Image credit: Kagabu et al., 2011; Solinst; USGS
- Use of automated,
continuous water-
level measuring
devices to generate
continuous water-
level records would
also be helpful.
Example of Monitoring System
Benefits
Source: Main
Report: Sinking
Jakarta, Causes
& Remedies
2015
As an example of the benefits of these types of data, data from the Utawa, Japan
monitoring station clearly shows the correlation between declining groundwater
levels due to intensified groundwater pumping, which contributes to subsidence.
Potential Future Strategies for
Jakarta
- Raise awareness about land
subsidence;
- Organize systematic monitoring
of reliable data;
- Develop in-depth knowledge
about the process of subsidence
and develop models;
- Assess vulnerabilities, risks and
impacts of subsidence;
- Develop responses and
solutions;
- Address governance;
- Support decision makers with
models and tools;
- Exchange of knowledge and
best practices.
Source: Sinking Cities, Deltares 2013 report
Driving forces
Pressures
StateImpacts
Responses
The Deltares (2013) “Sinking Cities” report recommends a
comprehensive and integrated approach to address subsidence:
Potential Future Strategies for
Jakarta (continued)
- 1. Problem analysis stage (Jakarta, Dhaka, Manila, and New
Orleans are examples of major cities at this stage);
- 2. Planning stage (Ho Chi Minh City is an example of a major
city at this stage);
- 3. Implementation stage (Bangkok is an example of a major
city at this stage);
- 4. Evaluation stage (Tokyo and Shanghai are examples of
major cities at this stage).
Source: Sinking Cities, Deltares 2013 report
The comprehensive and integrated approach has 4 stages
(Deltares, 2013)
Potential Future Strategies for
Jakarta (continued)
- Although the historical
subsidence in Jakarta
largely cannot be
reversed (~95% of land
subsidence is
unrecoverable), there
are nevertheless a
number of very helpful
things that can be done
to stop or mitigate the
subsidence.
Photo credit: Abidin et al., 2015
stage
Potential Future Strategies for
Jakarta (continued)
- 1. Restriction of groundwater extraction;
- 2. Natural and artificial recharge of aquifers;
- 3. Development of alternative water supplies (instead of
groundwater);
- 4. Integrated (urban) flood water management;
- 5. Improving governance and decision-making;
- 6. Decision support models and tools;
- 7. Appropriate monitoring and database system;
- 8. Integration of geotechnical aspects in planning and design
of buildings and infrastructure;
- 9. Asset management, financing and public-private-
partnerships;
- 10. Exchange of knowledge and best practices.
Source: Sinking Cities, Deltares 2013 report; Image credit: captureindonesia.com
The Deltares (2013) “Sinking Cities” report mentions 10 key issues
to address subsidence:
Potential Future Strategies for
Jakarta (Continued)
Photo credit: Abidin et al., 2015; spillwaynews.net; Santa Clara Water District
Central Valley
California Canals
And Aqueducts
- An improved network of
pipelines or canals may be
necessary to connect the
reservoirs to the city
distribution system.
- Jakarta currently depends on three
reservoirs and some natural lakes as
alternative source of water to
groundwater. The reservoirs are
owned by other jurisdictions. It would
be helpful to get an improved
agreement with them for long-term
usage.
Anderson Reservoir near
San Jose, California
Potential Future Strategies for
Jakarta (continued)- It would be helpful for Jakarta to
develop an improved water
distribution system to distribute
potable water from the new
surface-water source throughout
the city;
- This would result in shifting of the
current use of groundwater over to
this new surface-water based
source;
Image credit: Reddit; Public Radio International; COF-COF
- It would be most helpful for the city to
work towards the goal of stopping (or
greatly reducing) the abstraction of
groundwater from the deep aquifer,
including enforcement of the current laws;
Potential Future Strategies for
Jakarta (continued)
- Artificially recharge of the confined
aquifer via direct injection wells to
counter groundwater pumping and
help mitigate land subsidence is very
costly;
Photo credits: Galloway et al., 1999; iwindsurf.org
Satellite view of Los
Gatos, CA
percolation ponds
Typical artificial recharge well in Las Vegas
- The city could also install percolation
ponds in the recharge area for the
confined aquifer to the south of Jakarta;
- This likely will not have an immediate
effect on water levels, however, (because
of the long distance from the recharge
area to the main subsidence areas in
Jakarta) but will be of benefit long term.
Potential Future Strategies for
Jakarta (continued)
- An improved network of wastewater
treatment plants and sewers is
needed to serve the entire city.
Currently only 2% of wastewater is
treated. Water quality in the cities
13 rivers would dramatically
improve if this were implemented;
Photo credit: Dhara Water; Walsh Group
- When the water quality in the
rivers improves, the rivers could
be tapped as a treatable source
of water for the city. Currently
the river water is untreatable.
Potential Future Strategies for
Jakarta (continued)
Image credis: Feri Yadi, a resident of Muara Baru in North Jakarta, stands atop the seawall;
California Groundwater Coalition
- The city could use
reclaimed (or recycled)
and treated wastewater
is a potential source of
potable water as well.
- The city likely will need to raise
and improve the existing
seawall in the short term until
the shift from groundwater to an
alternate source of water can be
completed.
Potential Future Strategies for
Jakarta (continued)
Photo credit: Minnesota DNR; Iowa DNR
- It would be helpful to require that all well
drillers report a location and geologic log for
all newly drilled wells to a government entity
that maintains hydrogeologic data in a
database (DPE);
- It would also be helpful
to require that all
municipal, commercial,
and industrial high-
capacity wells annually
report groundwater
usage to a government
entity that regulates
that usage.
Enforcement is needed
for this and all water-
related laws (DPE).
Potential Future Strategies for
Jakarta (continued)- It would be helpful if a task force were established for the City focusing on
reducing subsidence in Jakarta;
- It would be helpful if the government took the lead in reducing groundwater
pumping by banning the use of groundwater in all government buildings;
- The city could take advantage of, and utilize the expertise of, local experts in
groundwater and land subsidence;
- The city could utilize the advice provided by world-renowned experts in land
subsidence who have held meetings and generated helpful solutions to
Jakarta’s problems.
Source: Main Report: Sinking Jakarta, Causes & Remedies, 2015
Roundtable meeting of
world-renowned
experts on land
subsidence in Jakarta,
May 26, 2015
Quick Fix ?
At least a partial “Quick Fix” to the Jakarta
land subsidence problem is possible for the
60% area of the city that is supplied by
municipal water:
- The city could locate all high-capacity water
users in those areas;
- Force them to stop pumping groundwater
and use the city water.
Summary
- Short term goals (5 years or less)
– Data collection;
– Data analysis;
– Establish task force on land subsidence.
- Long-term goals (more than 5 years)
– Improve access to alternative water source;
– Improve water distribution system;
– Improve wastewater treatment system.
Jakarta Future Needs
Questions?Image credis: Feri Yadi, a resident of Muara Baru in North Jakarta, stands atop the seawall