The Importance of Water Resources Management & Its Regulations

With rapid population growth and industrial development, the demand for water resources has increased significantly. On the other hand, water infrastructure faces various pressures, such as climate change and environmental pollution.

To address both of these issues, a water resource management process is necessary. This process is not only about maintaining water availability but also ensuring environmental sustainability and improving people’s quality of life. How is this possible? Find out the reasons in the following discussion!

What Is Water Resource Management?

Water resource management is a coordinated process for planning, developing, distributing, and protecting water to meet both current and future needs.

This process seeks to balance various water-dependent activities, ranging from consumption, irrigation, and energy production to industrial use. This is based on the limited availability of water to meet a wide variety of daily needs. Therefore, proper water resource management is necessary to prevent water shortages and manage water-related risks, such as droughts, floods, and pollution.

Why Is Water Resource Management Important?

Ensuring that water resources are preserved is important for environmental sustainability. Here are several factors that make water resources management a priority:

1. Ensuring Stable Access to Clean Water

In fact, everyone uses a large amount of water every day. The average daily water consumption per person in Indonesia is approximately 450 liters (around 120 gallons). This is where an adequate and integrated management system becomes essential.

In practice, this management system involves infrastructure and technology that support efficiency, such as optimizing piping systems and developing water-saving equipment.

With proper management processes, water will not be wasted, and the risk of water scarcity, or a condition where water resources are insufficient to meet the needs of people and the environment in a given region, can be prevented.

2. Preserving Ecosystems

Ecosystems and water are two interconnected elements. Ecosystems such as rivers, wetlands, and mangroves play a role in providing, purifying, and protecting water resources. On the other hand, ecosystems also require water to remain healthy and function optimally.

Without good water resources management to support this connection, the ecosystem’s ability to provide clean water may decline. Its physical condition may also be disrupted, whether due to land degradation or a decline in its ecological functions.

Ultimately, these conditions can adversely affect the overall health of the environment, especially if exacerbated by climate change.

3. Supporting Adaptation to Climate Change

In addition to affecting environmental health, climate change is also making the water cycle increasingly unstable. As a result, droughts and floods are occurring more frequently, rainfall patterns are shifting, and sea levels are rising.

Therefore, water resource management is considered crucial to help communities adapt to climate change. In fact, this management must be made more resilient, which means it must be able to withstand pressures, recover from disruptions, and adapt efficiently to long-term changes in conditions.

Some efforts that can be undertaken include promoting water conservation, reducing water-related emissions, or investing in green infrastructure.

4. Protecting Public Health

In fact, certain diseases can be transmitted through water, such as dysentery, cholera, typhoid, and diarrhea. The risk of these diseases spreading can continue to rise if water facilities are inadequate or poorly managed.

This is where water resources management plays a role in ensuring access to water remains safe, efficient, and supported by effective sanitation systems.

An example of water resources management that contributes to reducing the disease burden is WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene). WASH is a global approach developed and promoted by international organizations, particularly the WHO and UNICEF.

Through the WASH system, mortality rates from diarrhea were shown to decline significantly during the MDG (Millennium Development Goals) period. This was supported by a more reliable piped water supply and the construction of sewage systems connected to wastewater treatment facilities.

5. Supporting Food Security and Agriculture

It cannot be denied that water use in the agricultural sector is quite substantial. At the same time, this sector is also one of the main triggers of water pollution in many regions. Nevertheless, if water use in this sector is managed effectively, the benefits extend beyond agricultural production to encompass broader societal and environmental impacts.

Good water resources management plays a crucial role in supporting the agricultural sector and the nation’s food security. For example, sufficient water resources can help increase the food availability to meet growing demand and support the farmers’ welfare.

Regulations on Water Resources Management

The Government of the Republic of Indonesia has regulated water resource management under Law Number 17 of 2019 on Water Resources. This regulation states that water is a dynamic resource that continuously moves in accordance with the hydrological cycle.

Water availability also varies by region and season. Therefore, water management cannot be carried out in isolation but must be comprehensive, from upstream to downstream, based on river basins. Additionally, an integrated approach to surface water and groundwater is required.

Essentially, the concept of water resource management outlined in the above regulations aligns with the Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) approach. This approach manages water, land, and related resources coordinately to optimize economic and social benefits without compromising ecosystem sustainability.

The IWRM concept emerged because sector-specific water management often results in unsustainable water use and even ineffective service delivery. In practice, IWRM recognizes that water uses are inherently interconnected.

For example, high irrigation demands can reduce the availability of clean water for household and industrial needs. It can be concluded that the IWRM approach promotes cross-sectoral cooperation and the participation of various stakeholders in water resource management.

Integrated Water Management Solutions from Chandra Daya Investasi

In sustainable water resource management, the treatment process is a critical stage, particularly in supporting industrial needs. If you require water management solutions for industrial operations, Chandra Daya Investasi provides the solutions.

Chandra Daya Investasi, through its affiliate Krakatau Tirta Industri (KTI), offers water treatment solutions by operating facilities for the treatment of potable water and demineralized water.

KTI employs state-of-the-art technologies, including ion exchange, biological treatment, membrane filtration, and ultrafiltration, in its wastewater treatment processes for industries and companies. These processes are implemented to ensure water quality meets national standards and contributes to environmental sustainability.

In the clean water treatment sector, KTI operates the Krenceng Water Treatment Plant (WTP) and the Cidanau Water Treatment Plant (WTP). The Krenceng WTP has a capacity of 1,800 liters per second, with water sourced from the Cidanau River. Meanwhile, the Cidanau WTP has three intake pump units, each with a capacity of 600 liters per second.

So, entrust your clean water treatment needs to Krakatau Tirta Industri and Chandra Daya Investasi as your #YourGrowthPartner.