Salatiga city government cooperates with BNI Salatiga to build 10 infiltration ponds in Kumpulrejo village in Argomulyo sub-village, Salatiga city.
To implement the cooperation, BNI Salatiga handed over its CSR support for the infiltration ponds construction symbolically to the city government and community on August 25, 2020.
The infiltration ponds construction is one of the recommendations of the Spring Vulnerability Assessment and Action Plan (KKMA-RA) to tackle the decreasing water debit and quality of Kalitaman spring.
The study—which was carried out by the KKMARA team and USAID IUWASH PLUS, found that the water debit of Kalitaman spring has decreased sharply from 150 liter per second in 2010 to 88 liter per second in 2019. If it is not addressed properly, the spring will dry in the next few years.
The Head of Bappeda of Salatiga city, Mr. Sutanto, explained that the infiltration ponds are crucial to increase the water debit and groundwater reserves.
The KKMARA recommends around 1,500 infiltration ponds to return the water debit of Kalitaman spring to the previous. Thus, contribution from multi-stakeholder is required.
The Deputy Head of Marketing Division of BNI Salatiga, Mr. Ringgas Sitohang, explained that BNI Salatiga provided Rp40 million to build infiltration ponds.
“Hopefully, BNI’s CSR fund for environment will help increase the water reserves in Salatiga city, said. Mr. Ringgas.
Besides BNI Salatiga, several organizations also plan to build infiltration ponds. For instance, the environment office will build 45 infiltration ponds and 21 of them are in Kumpulrejo village. In addition, the government of Kumpulrejo village will also build 10 infiltration ponds in the community’s land. PDAM Saaltiga city also plans to build 10 ponds in their land.
