Jakarta plans seawater desalination to offset looming drought as sea wall project looms

Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung announced that the city will move forward with seawater desalination only after the Giant Sea Wall project gets under way, as the structure will provide sufficient brackish water for treatment. He noted that the provincial water utility, PAM Jaya, stands ready to convert the seawater into potable supply. The proposal was initially put forward by DPRD Speaker Suhud Alynudin, who warned that prolonged drought could strain Jakarta’s water resources and called for anticipatory measures using nearby water sources.

The Jakarta Regional Disaster Management Agency has placed all five city districts and the Thousand Islands in a “Warning” drought category for the period of September 11-20, based on BMKG analysis. Officials stress that the desalination effort is a contingency plan to secure clean water for residents if the drought persists.