~ Pergamon Wat. Sci. Tech. Vol. 31, No.9. pp. 1-10. 1995.

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WATER QUALITY CONSERVATION FOR

THE CITARUM RIVER IN WEST JAVA
Nana Terangna Buldt .
Research Institutelor Water Resources Development Agencylor Research and
Development, Ministry 01Public Works Jt Ir. H. Juanda 193, Bandung, Indonesia

ABSTRACT
The Citatum River in West Java has important roldn the economic development and prosperity of the
people in West Java Province and Jakarta City. It has been exploited to support agriculture, fisheries, public
water supply, industry, hydroelectric power and recreation. More than SOO industries and about five million
people in the basin are the main sources of water pollution of the Citatum River. The continuing
deterioration of water quality in the Citatum River has become a routine water pollution case. Therefore it is
necessary to solve the river pollution problems and upgrade the water quality. A study on water quality
management of the Citatum River was executed from 1989 to 1993. The objective was to define the
recommendation for the optimisation of water quality conservation. The results of the study show that the
quality at most locations of the river during the dry season has exceeded the water quality objectives for its
beneficial water uses. It is recomended that the domestic and industrial poIlution load bas to be reduced for
water quality conservation. Smaller unit domestic waste treatment and centralised industrial waste treatment
are recommended for pollution control. For further development it is recommended to propagate clean
technology and to prefer giving licences to industries with low water demand. Regular monitoring must be
c.'llTied out for effective water quality control.

KEYWORDS
Beneficial water uses; oxygen content; pollution load; population equivalent; river basin; self purification.

INTRODUCTION

Indonesia has about 5,886 rivers (DGWRD, 1991), which are divided in to 90 river territories according to
Ministry of Public Works regulation No. 39/PRT/1989. Water quality conservation of the rivers is now
becoming important because of the increase in water demand and pollution. Since 1989, the clean river
p.rogra~me (PROKASlH) has been promoted by the Government to improve the quality of 24 polluted
nvers 1n eleven provinces in Indonesia.

The Citaruin River is located in western part of Java, and its basin covers 5960 km 2• The total length of the
main river is about 315 km and flows from its water sources in mount Wayang to the Java sea in the north.
The greater part of the basin is highly productive land. More than 56 % of the area is used for agricultural
purposes, While the rest of the area is covered by forest (27.4 %), industry (7.9 %), human settlements (7.4
~.>' fishpond ~1.3 %) and other miscellenous uses (5.7 %). At the middle basin three dams, namely Saguling.
CICata and Jatiluhur, have been constructed with a total volume of about 47 x 108 m3• The overview map of
Citarum River Basin is shown in Fig. 1.
2 N.T. BUKIT

Citarum River Basin

Basin

WOM Citorum RIver I

Figure I. Situation map of the Citarwn River Basin.

The Citarum River has an important role in the economic development and prosperity of the people in West
Java Provinl:e and Jakarta City. It has been exploited to support agriculture, hydroelectric power. public
water supply. industry. lisheries and recreatinn. The three dams at the basin generate a total electric power of
1.350 MW. The Jatiluhur dam irrigates about 3.050 km 2 of rice fields in lower basin. Some hundreds of km 2
of ril:e tields are also irrigated by smaller dams in the upper and middle parts of the basin. Besides that, the
Jatiluhur reservoir becomes the source of drinking water for Jakarta. It supplies Jakarta with water for this
purpose at the rate of X.5 m 3/s and this be increased to 20 m 3/s (Nana Terangna and Badruddin. 1987). At
the upper amI middle basin. the Citarum River provides more than 3 m 3 of raw drinking water to the cities
IOl:ated along the river. Besides the public water supply system, about 5-15 % of people have direct water
use frum the river for their life activities. The "tloating net,," fishery system has been introduced at the
reservoirs and at the present time more than a thousand floating net" are used for freshwater fish in the
Saguling reservoir. Conventional fishponds are in the basin and the brackish water fisheries in the estuary
are also being developed. All the reservoirs are used as recreation areas, but Jatiluhur has developed other
fal:ilities sUl:h as water-skiing. sailing. fishing. boat racing. and residential accommodation.

Besides giving great benefit, Citarum has an equally great tendency for pollution. About 5 million people
and more than 2.500 industries in the basin are considered as the major pollution sources of the Citarum
River (Nana Terangna and Suyatna, 19X8). The most common wastewater treatment system for domestic
waste is the individual treatment by septic tank. It is estimated less than 15 % of the people at the bu."in use
septic tanks and the direct discharge of domestic wu.'ite into the surface water resources is more than 50 %
(Badruddin Mahbub, 191(8). In the west of Bandung, a centralised biological wastewater treatment plant for
000.000 population equivalent" (p.e.) ha.-; been operated in 1993. Development of industrial wastewater
treatment technology is one of the main Indonesian environmental protection activities at the present time.
Its implementation has been enforced via the clean river programme (PROKASIH). Based on the 199\
PROKASIH evaluation only 19 out of 225 industries have treatment plants meeting Indonesian effluent
 Water quality cooservatioo in West Java 3

standards. In the South of Bandung a centralised wastewater treatment plant with capacity of 240 Us for
about KO industries is under construction.

Several studies have indicated that the deteriomting quality of the Citarum water is due to the tremendous
pollution load it has to bear. The quality of the water at many locations does not meet the stream standards.
Water pollution cases becomes routine problems in dry seasons. Thousand tons of the freshwater fish in the
floating nets in the reservoir are killed by water pollution every year (L.ehmusluoto. P.• 1993). Some pans of
the main river and the tributaries are coloured by the wastewater disharge of textile industries. It is necessary
therefore. to upgrade the condition of the river. Further studies on water quality management are required
and the continuous WQM activities have to be implemented.

WATER QUALITY OFTHECITARUM RIVER

Water Quality objectives of the river

The stream standards for some rivers in West Java have been defined in the Governors decree No. 31/91 of
June 1991. The definition of water quality objectives of the Citarum River according to this decree is
divided according to two different aspects of its use. The first one is to meet the quality requirement for
drinking water resources as well as for fisheries. industrial water supply and agricultuml irrigation. The
definition of water quality for these purpose is taken from National Water Quality Standard class B. C. D of
the Governmental Regulation for Water Pollution Control No. 20/1990. The second is to meet the quality
requirement for irrigation and industrial water supply and defined as class C. D of the same regulation. The
definition of stream water qUality standards to meet the existing water uses for the Citarum River are shown
in Figure 2.

Allowed Water uses according to

Governor's decree No.38/91

\\\ter Class B, C. D

\\\ter Class C, D

--- Catchment area boundary

W. weir

Figure 2. Map of the stream water quality objectives based on water uses in the Citarum River Basin (Governors
decree No. 31191).
4 N. T. BUKIT

Water quality of the Citatum Riyer

Analyses data of the watcr quality of Citatum River are taken from watcr quality data for the dry and rainy
seasons of the year 1991.

Dinotvt'd O:CYKt'n Conlt'nl. The dissolved oxygen contcnt in the Citatum River is shown in Fig. 3. The
concentrations for a low watcr flow and for a high watcr flow period are also shown in this figure. It can be
seen that in both periods. in the upper river section (30 km to 90 km) an oxygen deficit is measured. In this
river section the oxygen contcnt remains below 3 mgll. This section is the upper Citatum basin into which
the wastewater of the populations of Bandung. Majalaya and Cimahi and the industrial wastcs are
discharging. This section is so overloaded that even in the high watcr period the oxygen content still remains
under 3 mgtl and the natural purification process in this section is not enough.

(mg 02llJ Dluolvtd Oxygen Cont....t

(1) '.f'I'/...
12 - . - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - . . . ,
on. data tam JM.ln
10 ~.c:'!Y.~~.~t:e:'!'.'.~.~~ ..

a
a
4

50 100 150 200 250

Citarum River Kilometres

W - weir

Figure 3. Dis.'iolved oxygen in the Citarum River for a dry and a wet season. data from September and January
1991.

BOD~ Conct'nlration. The BODS concentration is chosen as a major indicator for pollutants influencing the
oxygen balance of the river systcm. The highest BODs concentrations in the Citatum were measured a
tributaries of upper basin while the river is passing the city of Majalaya (90 mgll) and the city of Bandung
( I tl2 mgtl). In the middle and lower basin the BODs concentration remains below 10 mgl!. At the reservoir
intake the BOO~ concentration is still high at 42 mgll. Regarding the corresponding flow of 8.45 m 3/s. the
BOO~ load is about 30.7 ton BODs per day or about 1.2 million population equivalents.

Faecal Coliform. The faecal colifonn is chosen all an indicator for the pollution of domestic wastcwatcr. The
faecal coliform concentration in a dry season is shown in Fig. 4. The high levels of pollution in the upper
and lower Citatum can be clearly seen. Besides downstream of the reservoir outlets and in the reservoirs. at
all sampling locations the faecal colifonn concentration remains higher than 2000 MPN/IOO ml. This
observation indicatcs a high health risk for direct watcr use from the river. These mesurements show that the
river systcm is extensively used as direct receiving water for domestic wastcwatcr. The low amount in the
reservoirs indicatcs that they act as an effective reducing systcm for the river loaded with colifonns.
 Water quality conservation In West lava s

t.oooE+ Cl7 r----.,...-r-r?=:J:==z:=====;t

1000ooo

....E 10‫סס‬oo
8
-
'c>
o
1‫סס‬oo

! 1000
, R_ded
I max. value

: ---- faecaJ eol

: (2000 col./100 ml)
10 -h...........,...,..;,......:.r-.:....:...;...,.!.~....;.;;:::;:;:;::;:::;::;:~
,0 50 100 150 200 250 300
Citarum River Kilometres

Figure 4. Faecal colifonn concentration in the Citarum River Basin in adrj season, data from Sept.1991.

Concentration of Nutrients. As indicators for the nutrient concentrations. the concentrations of ammonium,
nitrate and phosphate are chosen. The ammonium and nitrate concentrations are shown in Fig. S. The curves
show high ammonium concentrations in the upper Citatum River. The high nutrient concentrations which
are measured in the supply stream to the Saguling dam give the indication of a high danger of eutrophication
of this dam.

12
.,
I
I
1 .
:10 I 1- Ammonium
I

··1···'····..· . 1 -Total Posph"

I , I 2-Nlntl
8 •••••••••••••• ""1" I I , "

....
"a
: §:
I ci,
: §: : §
,.(5 I I ci
R_mended
IIIall. value mgJl
....E 8 ..................................... + ••••••

---- ---_.- ,---:-·t-~t-~·_··

• • I " ••• - AmmonIum

4 ........ ,.. { : : I ,I
~
, " I
-Hm•
.
I " I " I
2 .2 •••.•..•••.•.. : .••\:.•• : .••• ~.• .:. •• ~ •.• ~ .••.••.••••••.•.•••••
S II ~
I I "" I,
ts'&'·· -.- .
0
0 50 100 150 200 250 sao
,Citarum River Kilometres

Spring

Figure S. Ammonium. nitrate and phosphate concentrations in the Citarum River Basin, data from Sept. 1991.
6 . N. T. BUKIT ;

Concentration of Ht'avy Metals. The heavy metal concentrations in low water period are shown in Fig. 6. At
five locations in the Citarum the chromium exceed 0.2 mg/l, at six locations the lead concentrations are
higher 0.1 mg/l. In the middle and lower basin the heavy metal concentrations remain at low levels, which
indicates that some heavy metal concentrations are removed at the dams. It could be stated that in future
there will be a risk due to increasing concentrations of heavy metals in the sediment ot this reservoir.

0.25 -y-----.,.--.-.,.--r,:::=========;'1
SePt.
,: Dry ....on, cia" from 111Q1

0,2

~0.15 4- Pb
e - Zn
E R_mme
Il\lIlL value
- 0,1 (1nG!l)
Cd 0·0.01
%II 1· 15 '
0.05 PbO.OS.0.1

'0 ~~~~~~~':'::::~::::;;;;=:d
o 50 100 150 ,200 250 300
Ciwum River Kilometres

Figure 6. Heavy metal concentartions in the Citarum River Basin, in the dry season SepL199I.

Eyaluation of the water QuaHty

According to the above-mentioned Governor's decree the quality in most part of the Citarum River.
especially during the critical time in dry seasons, fails to meet standard. As shown in Table I, only 4
locations (16%) from the 25 measured in the dry season of September 1991 meet the standard's requirement.
The other 21 locations (84%) failed to meat the permitted standard. Most problems come from the high
content of faecal coliform and low dissolved oxygen concentration. In some rivers high pH values and
slightly high chromium and ammonia concentrations have been found. This situation shows that both
organic and inorganic waste have been loaded to the river above its capacity. The sources of pollution are
industrial as well as domestic waste.

ASSESSMENT OF POLLUTION LOAD IN THE CITARUM RIVER

Estimation of pollution load

The pollution of the Citarum River was assessed as a cumulation of municipal and industrial wastewater.
Population data was taken from the Statistical Year Book 1991 and industrial wastewater data was taken
from PROKASIH data 1991. The wastew'ater loads from municipalities were calculated based on the
estimation of 27 g BODs/p.eJday (Badruddin, 1995).
 Water quality conservation in West lava 7

The wastewater load is expressed in population equivalent (p.e.). By this calculation the pollution load in
the upper Citarom River is 926.000 p.e. of municipal wastewater and 218,000 p.e. of industrial wastewater.
In the lower Citarum River system the pollution load is 321 p.e. of municipal and 76,000 p.e. of industrial
wastewater.

Table J. Evaluation of the implementation of water quality standards in the Citatum River

River Location Clasification Evaluation Remark

WO Standard WOOry
Season
Upper Citarum
1 Citarum Kertasari B. C, 0 No Fe
2 Citarum Talun C,D Ves
3 Citarum Kentreng C,O No DO
4 Citarum Koyod C,O No DO, In
5 Citarum Rancacatang C,O No, DO
6 Citarum Margahayu C,D No 00, Cr, NH3
7 Citarum Nanjung C,O No 00, Cr, NH3
8 Clrasea Patawija C;O No DO
9 Cipadawulun Palawija C,O No pH, DO
10 Cikapundung Oayeuhkolot S, C, 0 No pH, Fe, Pb
'1 Cisangkuy Oayeuhkolot C,O No DO
12 Ciwidey Soreang B,C,O No Fe
13 Cimahi Nanjung C,O No pH, DO
Middle Citarum
14 Citarum Waduk Saguling B,C,O Ves
15 Citarum Waduk Cirata B,C,O Ves
16 Cisokan Ciranjang B,C,O No Fe
17 Clmeta Rajamandala B,C,O No Fe
18 Cibalagung Cibogo B, C, 0 No Fe
19 Cikundul Cikerta B,C,O No Fe
20 Citarum Waduk 'Jatiluhur B, C, 0 Ves
21 Cikao Clkao Bandung B,C,O No Fe
lower Citarum
22 Citarum Bendung Curug S, C, 0 No Fe
23 Cibeet Cibeet B,C,O No Fe
24 West Tarum BTB 53 B,C,D No Fe
25 Citarum Cabangbungin C,D No OHL

Note:
WO : Water Ouality
B : Raw drinking water resources
C : Uvestoek and fisheries water resources'
o : Irrigation, Industrial raw water supply and other purposes
Ves : Meet standard requirement'
No : Exceed standard requirement
Fe : Faecal Coli; DO : Dissolved Oxygen

Riyer po!lytiQD Assessment

TJ:ie manual scree~ing model called "Wastewater Load Plan" developed by K. Imhoff, was applied by W.
~h~of .(1991) to assess the river pollution during the study of Water Quality Management for
OptimizatIOn of the System of the Citarum River Basin from 1989 to August 1993.
8 N.T.BUKIT

By this method a standard of 2S p.eJVs is recommended as a maximum flow loading to keep the oxygen
concentration in the river above 4 mg/l. It is also assumed that the wastewater loads are reduced by the effect
of Il river self-purification factor of 0.7%/km. The flow-specific loading was calculated from the total
wastewater load in p.e. divided by the flow of the Citarum River.

The flow-specific wastewater loads for the wet tuld dry seasons of 1991 are shown in Figure 7 and 8.

35c-------------------,
, [p.e./Vs] Flow-Specific Wastewater Load In a Rainy Season

Data from Jan.1991

30 .
1 Po" • CiO g BOO5ld
25·
recommended maxim....., ~ (25)
20 .

W a weir
IndultrlaJ D adam

50 100 150 200 250 ~

Citatum River Kilometres

Figure 7. Row.specific wastewater load of the Ciwum River for a wet season, data from January 1991.

[p••.N.] Flow-Speeific Wastewater Load In a Dry Season

800 Data from 8..,.1991 .

1 Po••• CiO g BOD5/d

600 ..

W a weir
200
D adam
___ !.~~~~_m_~~~~ i~
60 100 150 200 250 300
Citatum River Kilometres

Figure 8. Row-specific wastewater load of the Citarum River for a dry season, data from September 1991.

Regarding the wastewater load for a wet season (Jtuluary 1991), the high-loaded upper Citarum River
section could be evidently seen. The values ranges from 9 to 30 p.eJVs. In the lower river section the loading
ranges from 2 p.eJUs to 3 p.eJVs. These low load data indicate that in the wet season the Citarum River
 Water quality conservation in West Java 9

Basin can be characterised as not critically loaded. Only in the middle of the upper river section the load
exceed the recommended maximum load. In the lower section the river is low loaded. Regarding the flow-
specific wastewater load for a dry season (data from September 1991), the situation is very critical. The high
everloading of the upper Citarum River section could be seen in values ranging from 150 to more than 800
p.e./Us. This overloading was obvious from the water quality measurement. In this river section the oxygen
content is below I mg/l and the colour of the river water is black. In the lower Ciwum River basin the
loading remains below 20 p.eJVs. This loading is low because in the dry and wet season the effluent of the
Jatiluhur dam is maintained at the same flow.
Simulation of pollution load reduction
Regarding the critical overload of pollution in the upper Citatum, waste-reducing activities have to be
initialised at this area. By the simulation of pollution load reduction it is shown in the Fig. 9 that more than
HO% reduction of wastewater load is required in the upper Citatum during the dry season at the present
time.

100

Figure 9. Requirement of wastewater load reduction during dry season.

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

The upper Citatum River Basin urgently requires attention owing to a heavy pollution load from domestic
and industrial waste. Monitoring of the Citatum River Basin from Majalaya to Saguling Reservoir indicates
decreasing water quality which will disrupt exploitation of the water for various purposes and, therefore,
require appropriate control. The middle and lower Citatum, after the Saguling Reservoirs shows better
water quality, but it must be maintained and protected from the pollution.

The deterioration of water quality in the upper Citatum is mainly caused by the overload of wastewater from
municipalities and industries in the upper Citarum. It is necessary to reduce more than 80% of the pollution
load from municipalities and industries for water quality conservation at this area.

Since the pollution load is increasing and the water quality of the Citatum River is becoming worse every
year, the investment in wastewater treatment systems should be increased to minimize the pollution
discharged into the river. For municipal wastewater treatment it seems appropriate to develop some smaller
treatment units for communities to reduce the cost of sewerage. For industrial wastewater treatment,
centralised wa...tewater treatment is recommended for industries that are located in a cluster. Pre-treatment is
JWST 31-...
10 N.T.BUKJT

necessary for toxic substance reduction in selected industries. It is recommended to propagate clean
technologies and to select low water demand industries for new development in the Citarum River Basin,
especially in the upper basin.

A continuing water quality monitoring programme should be carried out for effective water quality control.
The penalty for violation of water pollution regulations should be raised. Co-ordination and co-operation
among relevant agencies or industries in solving pollution problems should be increased.

REFERENCES
Badrutldin Mahbub (1988). Pengendalian Pencemaran Air Daerah AIiran Sungai Citarum Huh!, Majalah Pekerjaan Umum,
No.31Th XX/I/Juni.
Directorate General of Water Resources Development (DGWRD). (1991). Kapasitas Sumber Daya Air Menjelang talJun 2000.
Seminar Kebijaksanll.'Ul dlm Strategi Pengembangan Sumber Daya Air Jangka Panjang di Indonesia, Bappenas, Jakarta.
Kirchhof. W. (1993). Water Quality Management for Optimization of the System of the Citarum River Basin-Project BTA. BMFT
02 WT 8851. Final Report.
Lemusluoto, P. (1993). Limllology of Indonesian Lakes and Reservoirs with special Reference to the Saguling, Cirata and
Jatiluhur Reservoirs in the CitlU1Jm River Basin. Final Proie" Seminar on Water Quality Management ofOptimization of
the System o/the Citarum River Dasifl, Bandung 9th - /4 t Augurs /993.
NluJa TerlUlgna nnd Suyatna, A. (1988). Pengendalian Pencemaran Air. sebagai usaha Optimasi Pemanfaatan Sumber Air Sungai
Cilarum. paper seminar Penghemalan d.'Ul Pemanfaalan Air. Puslitbang Pengairan.
Nann Terangna and Badruddin, M. (1987). West Tarum CanaI as a Raw Waler Source for Purification Plants of DKl Jakana
Water Supply. Jurnal Puslitbang Pengairan No.6 Th.2 KW 1/.