The water resources is an emerging issue in Ternate city. The water discharge from the Ake Gaale water spring has long been in decline. The water in community wells is dry and salty due to seawater intrusion. To help the City Government of Ternate in overcoming the issue, USAID IUWASH PLUS has facilitated a collaboration between the City government and private sector in Ternate city to conserve the groundwater by constructing 700 infiltration ponds through CSR Partnership.
A launching of CSR Partnership to conserve water was conducted at State Elementary School (SDN) 51, Sangaji Utara urban village on November 29, 2017, as part of a series for the 767th Anniversary of Ternate city. The launching was marked by the groundbreaking of infiltration ponds construction supported by the Representative Office of Bank Indonesia of North Maluku Province, the Regional Banking Consultative Forum (BMPD), Bahari Berkesan Shariah People’s Credit Banks (BPRS), BPBD, the Water Supply Company (PDAM) in Ternate city, and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through the Indonesia Urban Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Penyehatan Lingkungan untuk Semua (IUWASH PLUS) Program.
The formal groundbreaking was conducted by the Acting Director of USAID Indonesia, Ryan Washburn, the Mayor of Ternate, Burhan Abdurahman, The Head of Representative Office of Bank Indonesia of North Maluku Province, Dwi Tugas Waluyanto, and Chief of Party of the USAID IUWASH PLUS Program, Louis O’Brien. “It is time to conserve the groundwater in Ternate. At least 700 infiltration ponds for Ternate through the CSR partnership will saving the raw water source of PDAM Ternate in Ake Gaale area,” said Burhan Abdurahman in his opening remarks. Also appreciating the local government efforts in increasing access to water supply, Acting Director of USAID Indonesia also emphasizing on the importance of water supply. “The work we do together will achieve the target result for 1 million people to gain access to safe water supply service,” said Ryan Washburn.
In this event, a partnership agreement between the BPRS Bahari Berkesan and USAID IUWASH PLUS has also been signed. After that, the event continued with the inauguration of water quantity monitoring facility. The inauguration ceremony itself was held at PDAM office in Ternate city.