PRESS RELEASE

NO.134/SP/TKM-WORLDWATERFORUM2024/05/2024

Water Circulation Engineering to Mitigate Hydrological Disaster

Most of the Earth's surface consists of water, however, water-related disasters such as floods and droughts continue to pose a significant threat in present times, frequently recurring in the same regions. Consequently, numerous lives are threatened, and economic activity is disrupted. This is why water circulation engineering initiatives are crucial for mitigating and managing hydrological disasters.

This sparked an interesting conversation during the water use engineering session of the 10th World Water Forum, which was held on Tuesday, 22 May, at the Bali International Convention Center in Nusa Dua, Bali, under the theme "Implementing Circular Water and Resources Management for Food Security and Resilient Cities."

Several speakers outlined concrete measures to implement water circulation engineering for the community. Eva Plannes, an architect and researcher from the Netherlands, recounted the success story in Chennai, India. The speaker stated that the "City of 1000 Tanks" project, which is located in this area with a population of 7.1 million, employs water circulation engineering to mitigate the risks of drought and flooding caused by rainfall.

The water balance concept is an engineering model designed to ensure the sustainable circulation of water in accordance with the population's needs. This engineering utilizes Decentralized Nature-Based Solutions (NBS), which identify the convergence of natural water sources with interconnected water holes. The water will then be distributed or collected through online monitoring.

"The inspiration was drawn from the irrigation system at Hindu temples, which regulates the availability of water, whether it is plentiful or scarce," said Plannes, who is engaged in a collaborative project with the local government and the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Meanwhile, another speaker, Prof. V. Srinivas Chary, explained that the City of Hyderabad in India is now initiating the adoption of eco-friendly structures that utilize recycled water.   Used or unclean water will be processed with purifying technology before being stored with rainwater and other water sources. Chary stated that the clean water recycling technology is calculated based on the occupant capacity or usage level, such as in industries. Therefore, the solution for fulfilling water requirements does not just depend on the freshwater supply from natural sources.

"Old buildings must have an Onsite Wastewater Treatment System (OWTS) installed, which is adjusted to the occupant capacity," Chary stated.

Meanwhile, in Belgium, efforts to reuse recycled water have been adopted in a number of small cities by adjusting to local environmental conditions. Inge Genne from VITO, a Belgian water organization, spoke about the success of the Tielt Noord Business Park, which combined a water circulation system with an integrated recycling system for agriculture. Local farmers support the implementation of this system as it has no impact on exportable yields. (Dede Ariwibowo/Senja/Elvira Inda Sari/SC/MB)

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For further information, please contact:

Director General of Public Information and Communications of the Ministry of Communications and Informatics – Usman Kansong (0816785320).

PCO of the 10^th World Water Forum - Dede Ariwibowo (08111830020)

Get more information at https://infopublik.id/kategori/world-water-forum and https://s.id/worldwaterforumpedia