Starfruit (malangkota.go.id) – Malang Mayor Drs. H. Sutiaji directly tested the Bango Water Treatment Plant (WTP) with a capacity of 100 liters per second (lps) in Pandanwangi Village, Blimbing District, Wednesday (20/9/2023). In this trial, Malang Mayor Sutiaji wanted to ensure that the water sourced from the Bango River could be a solution to the water needs of the people of Malang City. In addition, this trial was to test the suitability of the water as drinking water.
"This is quite proud and slowly gives us all an understanding that there is a guarantee of the continuity of our raw water supply. Don't worry, there will still be more stages. God willing, this is ready to drink. Earlier it was still suitable because it had to go to the laboratory first," said Sutiaji.
To ensure and give confidence to the public about the safety of water from the Bango IPA, Sutiaji directly drank the water that was distributed through pipes. "It tastes fresh, there is no smell, which means it is suitable. If it is safe, it needs to be tested in a laboratory. If it is already 200 lps in December, we must prove it. The connection has been built, so that it can be distributed to our customers," he added.
The Bango IPA is targeted to be distributed to the community with a total capacity of 200 lps in 2023. The capacity of the Bango IPA will continue to be increased gradually to 500 lps in 2027. With the existence of the Bango IPA, Sutiaji hopes that the community will no longer need to worry about the availability of water in Malang City.
"Thank you to PJT (Perum Jasa Tirta) who has accompanied us until the availability is realized, hopefully in 2027 it will be ready for 500 lps, but we hope it can reach 1.000 lps in the 2030s. Of course this will create security and comfort for us, so we don't need to worry about water availability because we already have raw water independence," said the bespectacled man.
Also present at this trial was the President Director of Perum Jasa Tirta (PJT) I, Fahmi Hidayat. His party will ensure that the water is in accordance with the Regulation of the Minister of Health (Permenkes) Number 2 of 2023. Various indicators must be met so that water from the Bango IPA is included in the safe category, such as color, odor, chemical substances, and microbiological elements.
"This water has been declared suitable, but to be said to be safe and can be used as drinking water that can be directly consumed, it must be confirmed first. If chemically, such as from PH, turbidity, all of that can be included. But from the microbiology, what is the content of e-coli bacteria, we will confirm it in the laboratory," explained Fahmi.
Fahmi said that every 1 lps of water produced is sufficient to supply 80-100 house connections. He further explained that even though it is currently experiencing a long dry season, the water discharge of the Bango River is still sufficient. "Even though it is now a long dry season, the water discharge is still sufficient. But we are still considering the overall water balance or balance because all users must be met from upstream to downstream," he concluded. (ari/yon)
