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Waluyo Hatmoko 2)
Abstract
The increases of population and socio-economic activities in Indonesia have escalated the
water demand for various purposes. On the other hand the water available is relatively still
the same, and even in some rivers has been deteriorated. Conflicts of water have occurred,
and more conflict might happen in the future. Proper water rights and water allocation
system is expected to allocate the limited water in a fair, efficient and sustainable manner.
This paper discussed the water rights and water allocation in Indonesia. Annual water
allocation in Indonesia have been established since the old Dutch era, while the real-time
water allocation in some river basins have been carried out in river basins managed by
public owned company, and some other pilot basins Strategic water allocation study for the
river basin water resources masterplan as stated in Water Law 2004, have carried out by
national consultant since the year of 2005. It is concluded that water rights and water
allocation framework in Indonesia have been formulated well in the Water Law; however
more implementation regulations are still needed.
Keywords: water allocation, water rights, water resources management, Indonesia
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1) Presented at the International Seminar on Water Resources Allocation, Beijing, China, 14 15
September 2010, Supported by Ministry of Water Resources, PRC and Asian Development Bank
2) Researcher, Research Center for Water Resources,
Agency of Research and Development, Ministry of Public Works, Indonesia
Jl. Ir, H. Juanda 193, Bandung 40135, Indonesia
Fax: +62-22-2500163, email: whatmoko@yahoo.com
Introduction
Indonesia consists of 17,508 large and small islands, and with a coastline of 84,000 km. It is
the largest archipelago nation in the world covering a land area of 1.92 million km2. Most
islands have mountainous areas of volcanic origin and some have active volcanoes. This
country is subject to tropical climate, which is marked by two seasons, the wet season from
October to March and the dry season from April to September. This seasonal rainfall pattern is
most pronounced in the west region from Sumatera to Bali. The east region except Papua has
a rainy season, which is normally shorter than that of the west region. Between 53% and 86 %
of the mean annual rainfall occurs in the October to March rainy season period. Soil of Java
and Bali are deep and fertile, while those of other islands are less fertile and particularly
sensitive to erosion as the forest and ground cover is destroyed.
Java Island is the most socially and economically progressive island has 59% of the national
population with a population density of 919/km2. This has resulted in both surface and
groundwater quality degradation. In Java and Sumatera, urban and industrial development
encroaches on agricultural lands and result in conversion to other uses. The combined effect
of deforestation, and population growth threaten water quality for existing development, and
water availability for future development. At the latest decades, the condition of food selfsufficient status has become worse. That worse condition has not just caused by global
climate changes but also suffering a lack of capability to manage water, and lack of
sustainable financing management and of course deforestation on the upper watershed.
The increasing in non-agriculture demand, the competition for water uses will increase
conflicts between the different types of users, increase water quality problem during low flow
(Anshori, 2005).
managed by central government, while the provincial RBT and district RBT are managed by
provincial and district government respectively.
Unit for Water Resources Management and Technology (DUWRMT) which aims to develop
the Indonesian RBOs capacity.
Water utilization right consists of communal water usage right and commercial water
exploitation right that can not be leased out or transferred, partly or wholly. The first priority
of water allocation is the basic daily human needs and small-scale farming within existing
irrigation systems. There are customary rights, provided it is not contradictory to national
interests and legislative regulations.
Real time water allocation during dry season is promoted in some basins in Java since the
year of 2000 (Anshori, 2005).
planning. The Council reports to the Minister of Public Works and to the Governors of Central
Java and East Java Provinces (Sudarsono, 2009).
Water Allocation
Water abstraction permits acts as one of the main regulating instrument of the water rights
(Valiant, 2007). Water allocation among users and geographical areas is implemented in the
basin level, at two levels: 1) strategic water allocation plan for the 20 years ahead. It is called
Pola or Pre Masterplan, and Rencana or Masterplan. Figure 4 shows a DSS-Ribasim
schematization for water allocation in Bengawan Solo River Basin to facilitate development
of Pola; and annual water allocation plan issued by the head of districts in Bengawan Solo
River Basin.
Concluding Remarks
Key Issues
The key issues in water rights and water allocation in Indonesia can be identified as follows:
1) Conflict on water allocation and its utilization and usage between commercial and noncommercial between sectors, between district/city; 2) No guarantee from government on
sustainable water required by the users (especially in commercial sector), including no
compensation losses/damages due to unsustainable water supplies; 3) Coordination: too many
institutions involved in water resources management, surface and groundwater management
are under two separate institutions, lack of coordination between spatial planning and water
resources planning processes; 4) Regulations: implementing regulations of Water Law are not
yet complete; 5) Law enforcement; 6) Lack of adequate hydrological data; 7) Cost recovery is
not significant; and 8) Human resources: lack of capacities, and generation gap.
Lessons learned
Lessons learned from experiences are: Legal framework to provide support and legal basis for
water
rights and water allocation activities has to be set up; Public involvement
and
awareness to support of activities is one of the key success of water allocation management;
Water council at the basin level is essential to promote a fair, efficient and sustainable water
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allocation; Water allocation is better managed from the lowest (local) possible level; Local
wisdom is one of the most important success factor in water allocation; and a Decision
Support System for Water Allocation is not a must. However it might encourage better data
collection and analysis process
References
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