Lake Sentani is the largest lake in West Papua, Indonesia, encompassing the areas of Jayapura City and Regency, Papua. The lake is being prepared to become a raw water source for the future residents of Papua, particularly in these two regions.

Utilizing the water from the 104 square kilometer (10,400 hectares) lake with a depth of 75 meters above sea level is considered a primary alternative after the water sources in Cycloop Mountain began to diminish due to ongoing deforestation.

The Head of the Papua River Basin Agency, Nimbrot Rumaropen, acknowledged that the agency has prepared the facilities and infrastructure to utilize Lake Sentani’s water as clean water and as a future water source for Jayapura City and Regency.

Since 2019, the Papua River Basin Agency has been building reservoirs to ensure that Lake Sentani’s water becomes the main raw material for clean water to be managed by Air Minum Jayapura Company.

Lake Sentani’s water cannot be used directly as it must first be processed into clean water. Therefore, the Papua River Basin Agency is constructing reservoirs to pump the lake’s water.

Once stored in the reservoirs built by the River Basin Agency, Lake Sentani’s water must be processed before it is distributed to the customers.

Currently, this water cannot be utilized as it is still categorized as raw water, pending the construction of water treatment facilities that will process it into clean water.

The Papua River Basin Agency has prepared these plans, and the facilities will be built by the Papua Settlement Infrastructure Agency.

Once the construction is completed, trials and research will be conducted on the water quality before it is distributed to the customers of the water company.

The processed water must be confirmed to be safe for consumption and meet health standards.

Optimal Service

The Director of Air Minum Jayapura Company, Entis Sutisna, emphasized that the company will provide optimal service given that Lake Sentani’s water volume is substantial.

Initially, the water volume to be used will be 1,000 cubic meters per second. However, this amount will not be fully utilized as the current water sources from Cycloop Mountain are still being used.

Presently, the water sources managed by the company originate from Cycloop Mountain, stretching from Jayapura Regency to Jayapura City.

There are 21 water sources managed by the company from Cycloop Mountain with varying capacities, but over time, the water volume tends to decrease due to deforestation.

Large capacity water sources such as Camp Walker and Tarbonji are experiencing a decline, partly suspected to be due to deforestation.

Deforestation and land-use changes have caused a decrease in water volume and environmental damage.

“For example, areas like Camp Walker, which were previously forested, are now open due to deforestation,” said Entis.

He hopes that utilizing Lake Sentani’s water as a future clean water source for Jayapura City residents can meet the clean water needs.

Currently, various preparations are still ongoing by the parties responsible for providing water, including the Papua River Basin Agency, which has built reservoirs, and the Papua Settlement Infrastructure Agency, which will build water treatment facilities.

In addition to preparing treatment facilities for raw water into clean water, Lake Sentani’s water must be examined before being distributed to the 38,000 customers.

Air Minum Jayapura Co, as the company specializing in clean water services, is ready to manage and distribute it to residents in both Jayapura City and Regency.

Entis stated that if Lake Sentani’s water can be utilized, service to customers can be maximized and the water flow time extended.

Moreover, to support services, the company is also replacing old pipes, especially those installed since the Dutch colonial era, to reduce leaks.

Currently, around 60 percent of the customer pipe connections are new, expected to reduce leakage rates.

The water supplied to customers so far is not yet drinking water but clean water that must be boiled before drinking or cooking.

Protect the Cycloop Mountain Nature Reserve

A youth leader from Sentani, Jayapura Regency, Izak Hikoyabi, urged all community elements to protect the Cycloop Mountain Nature Reserve from deforestation so that its benefits as a water source for residents in Jayapura Regency and City are preserved.

Indeed, the water sources from Cycloop Mountain are widely utilized by the community, including the water company formerly known as PDAM Jayapura.

Therefore, the preservation of the Cycloop Mountain Nature Reserve forests must be maintained by not cutting trees in the area.

Izak Hikoyabi warned that if the forest is not protected collectively and deforestation continues, it is feared that natural disasters like the 2019 flash flood could occur again.

The government, private sector, and community are urged to take concrete actions to prevent forest damage in the Cycloop Mountain Nature Reserve, including reforesting areas with thinning tree populations.

Moreover, deforestation for any reason must be stopped immediately. “Let’s work together to protect the area so that natural disasters causing the loss of 105 lives do not happen again,” reminded Izak Hikoyabi.