Clean Water Availability

The growth rate of the Indonesian population is estimated on the average at 1.2% per year and by 2020 it could reach 250 million. The rapid growth of the population will also affect the need for clean water. Unfortunately, data from the Ministry of Health cited that 60% of rivers in Indonesia are polluted, from organic materials to bacteria causing diarrhea such as fecal coliform. River water should be the source of life of surrounding communities but instead the many polluted rivers impact the health of communities. In relation to this, World Water Day is celebrated each year on March 22 and can serve as a reminder to us on the importance of clean water availability and sustainability for human kind.

Water pollution in Indonesia today is quite serious and is caused by such things as domestic waste, such as detergent water, kitchen waste, and human excrement (feces). Wastes are disposed of in various forms: liquid, gas, and solids. Data released by the State of Environment Report (SoER) of the Ministry of Environment in 2012 cited that water pollution in Indonesia has increased especially from domestic sewage. Globally, water pollution is caused by domestic liquid waste, domestic waste, and inappropriate land use. It is compounded by 30% of communities which still defacate in fresh surface water sources. Every day in this country, approximately 14 thousand tonnes of human excrement are yet to be managed properly causing a decrease in water quality.

The Head of the Environmental Pollution Division of the Agency for Development and Application of Technology (BPPT), Rudi Nugroho, talking to Media Indonesia, Tuesday (March 01) admitted that domestic waste coming from detergent is quite high. Consequently, clean water availability which should have been 40%, currently is only 18 %.

It is very important to educate the communities on the importance of maintaining the quality and
availability of water, he said. The communities must learn to stop littering in and around rivers to prevent damage to the ecosystem. This was in line with what was said by the Manager of the Water and Food Campaign of the NGO Walhi, Muhammad Ishlah. He said that, it will need the involvement of the community promote environmental health efforts. “The government's role in the rehabilitation of water quality must also be done sustainably such as to rehabilitate water spring areas. Collaboration between the government and the community must be established.”

Several Solutions
Rudi Nugroho said that there are several solutions to enhance water quality affected by domestic waste. Several measures can be taken by the communiy to neutralize waste water from hazardous materials, i.e. biological, chemical, and physical measurement biological test management is considered relatively inexpensive and efficient by using bacteria which cause precipitation of solid material. “The more microbes, the more decomposition provided there is adjustment of the source of
flow through septic tanks“, he explained.

According to BPS data from a 2012 report, from 2006 to 2011 nationwide the percentage of houses equipped with septic tanks increased from 40.7% to 60.3%. Secondly, physical waste management involves filtering large substances and separating suspensions which are easy to precipitate. Thus the disposed waste water will no longer contain oil or grease. However this process requires a long period of time and is complicated. “As for chemical waste management, it can be done by spreading electrolytes such as alum to eliminate particles which are not easy to precipitate, such as organic compounds.” Other measures can be taken, he added, by creating a separation between bathroom and kitchen wastes. “By that measure, domestic waste will not pollute the environment as it flows into the culverts,“ he proposed. (S-1)

Water Salinity

Salinity is commonly called the salinity is the total amount of material dissolved in water. Generally, salinity was calculated with units of ppt (parts per thousand), ie the amount of material (grams) of solute per liter of water.

Based on salinity, water bodies can be divided into three categories, namely freshwater (0-3ppt), seawater (greater than 20 ppt) and brackish water (40-20 ppt). In normal sea water salinity is 35 ppt, although it will vary depending on the location.

To measure the salinity can be done by means of salinometer or a refractometer. By way of dripping water into the tool, then the value of salinity is the amount of water that dripped, can be read on the scale tool.

Effect of salinity of fish occur on osmoregulation process. Freshwater fish are not tolerant of salinity, due to changes in physiology osmosecells of the body that cause fish become stressed.

Tolerance to salinity by fish from the brackish water areas are generally higher or wider than freshwater fish or saltwater fish. Such as scat fish (Scatophagus argus), some of rainbow fish, and Blue Acara (acqudens Pulcher) quite tolerant with fresh water to brackish water.

Water Quality for Fish

Water for pet ornamental fish can come from various sources, namely groundwater or well water, river water or swamp water or tap water.

1. Ground water or well water. Well water usually clean enough and contain gases and mineral. Beside depend on the depth of water source, the quality of well water also depend on the season. On the dry season the source water surface can down, while on wet season the surface arise, this surface affected by the environment. For this reason water can contain of organic and inorganic pollutant and bacteria. The pollutant concentration depend on the depth of the ground water. More depth of ground water surface, smaller pollutant on there. Using ground water for pet fish better let it one day, if possible by aeration or pump air into the water, in order incorporate free air into water. 
2. River Water. River water quality can change suddenly, using for pet fish need to be precipitated a night before use. This will make soil suspension will precipitated first. Use filter is very important before enter into precipitated pool, in order avoid from pest enter or fish diseases and other wastes. Because the quality can be guaranteed, people rare use river water for their pet fish.
3. Tap Water. Using tap water for pet fish is very good, beside clean, usually tap water already through filtration and bacterial killing. Unfortunately chlorine and other disinfectant can high, beside contain of little copper from water treatment like alum. To eliminate chlorine concentrate on tap water can use strong aeration for 12 hours. If using aeration still smell of chlorine can use potassium tiosulfate as much as one crystal for 30 liters of water. Beside of using potassium tiosulfate can use Sodium tiosulfate 10 %, with dose 1 - 2 drop for 10 liter of water.

Water Analyses

Water analyses to water treatment or to other water source is may have different parameter usually depend on the suspected contamination or prediction content on the water especially metal content. On the analyses are first test the pH of water, if the pH is not on normal range (6 - 8) then water is not fulfil to use for our drinking water and should be treated first. The second key parameter of water is TDS, if the TDS is higher than 100 it's mean that water content too many dissolved mineral or salt on it. This water can be dangerous to consume and need of further check of water content.

If the TDS of water is higher than 100 mg/liter, mean that water should be treated first before use for consumption. TDS content on the water can content hazardous mineral if we consume directly, and mineral dissolve on the water can be vary. To know the content of mineral dissolve on the water should be check in the laboratory. Many metal can check but if water smell like iron then can be check the iron content on the water, either are checked other metal content for example, sodium salt, zinc, mangan, copper, and other metals.

Other analyses to the water is the COD and BOD condition of water, this check will know if water still content enough oxygen in it and health to consume, if BOD or COD too high its mean on the water content microbe or chemicals that need more oxygen to convert this organism or chemicals on the water and as the consequences oxygen content on the water will finished be used by microbe or chemicals to react. The maximum BOD₅ allowed is 50.

Water Quality Criteria

Classification and criterion of water quality
(1)  Quality classification Water shall be categorized in to four classes:

• Class one, water for which its allocation is for drinking water and or other allocation requiring same water quality for that purpose;
• Class two, water for which its allocation can be utilized for facility/infrastructure of water recreation, cultivation of neutral water, animal husbandry, water for irrigating garden and or other allocation requiring same quality of water with that purpose.
• Class 3, water for which its allocation can be utilized to irrigate garden and or other purpose requiring same water quality with the use
• Class four, water for which its allocation can be utilized to irrigate grade and or other purpose of allocation requiring same water quality with the purpose.

(2) Criterion of water quality of each class of water as defined in paragraph (1) shall be attached in attachment of this Government Regulation.

(1) Establishment of water class as meant under above article on:

a. Water sources lying in two or more provincial territories and or constituting state cross-borders established under the Presidential Decree.
b. Water resource lying in two or more District /Township territories could be arranged under the Provincial Ordinances.
c. Water resource lying within the territory of any District/Township shall be established under the District/Township Ordinances.

(3) Establishment of water sources as meant under paragraph (1) shall be proposed on the grounds of analysis outcome by the Government, Provincial Government, and or District/Township Government based on its authority under the applicable legislation.

(4) Government may assign the Provincial Government concerned to take an analysis as meant under paragraph (1) a.

(5) Guideline in such analysis in order to establish the water class as meant under paragraph (2) shall be enacted by the Minister.

Water-Reuse Issues in Tomato Cannery

Freshly harvested fruits and vegetables, packed into cans, glass jars, or aseptic packs, are convenient and nutritious. Like the tomato harvested in America have prohibit to this industry that is not apply of waste treatment for their industry.

But America's canneries-as well as juice-processing plants and wineries-need lots of clean, fresh water to wash and process field, orchard, and vineyard harvests.

What to do with all that water after it's been used for these jobs is becoming a monumental problem for many food processors nationwide. Strict environmental regulations make some of yesterday's disposal choices no longer an option.

Agricultural Research Service salinity experts at the George E. Brown, Jr., U.S. Salinity Laboratory in Riverside, California, have jumped in to help develop economical, Earth-friendly ways to manage the used water. Three soil scientists-Don Suarez and Pete Shouse, with ARS, and Scott Lesch, with the University of California-Riverside-have teamed with the Sacramentobased California League of Food Processors to apply the best science-based water-management practices to solving processors' water-reuse problems.

Water Quality Regulation

UNITED STATES WATER QUALITY LEGISLATION AND REGULATIONS

Federal Water Pollution Control Act (FWPCA) was passed. This act and its various amendments are often referred to as the Clean Water Act (CWA). It provided loans for treatment plant construction and temporary authority for federal control of interstate water pollution.

The enforcement powers were so heavily dependent on the states as to make the act almost unworkable. In 1956, several amendments to the FWPCA were passed that made federal enforcement procedures less cumbersome. The provision for state consent was removed by amendments passed in 1961, which also extended federal authority to include navigable waters in the United States.

In 1965 the Water Quality Act established a new trend in water pollution control. It provided that the states set water quality standards in accordance with federal guidelines. If the states failed to do so, the standards would be set by the federal government subject to a review hearing. In 1966, the Clean Water Restoration Act transferred the Federal Water Pollution Control Administration from the Department of Health, Education and Welfare to the Department of the Interior. It also gave the Interior Department the responsibility for the Oil Pollution Act.

After the creation of EPA in 1970, the EPA was given the responsibility previously held by the Department of the Interior with respect to water pollution control. In subsequent amendments to the FWPCA in 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, and 1977, additional Federal programs were established. The goals of these programs were to make waterways of the United States fishable and swimmable by 1983 and to achieve zero discharge of pollutants by 1985. The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) was established as the basic regulatory mechanism for water pollution control. Under this program, the states were given the authority to issue permits to “pointsource” dischargers provided the dischargers gave assurance that the following standards would be met:

1. Source-specific effluent limitations (including New Source Performance Standards)


2. Toxic pollutant regulations (for specific substances regardless of source)


3. Regulations applicable to oil and hazardous substance liability In order to achieve that stated water-quality goal of fishable and swimmable waters by 1983, each state was required by EPA to adopt water-quality standards that met or exceeded the Federal water quality criteria. After each state submitted its own water-quality standards, which were subsequently approved by EPA, the Federal criteria were removed from the Code of Federal Regulations.

The state water quality standards are used as the basis for establishing both point source-based effluent limitations and toxic pollutant limitations used in issuing NPDES permits to point-source discharges.
Source-Based Effluent Limitations Under the FWPCA, EPA was responsible for establishing point-source effluent limitations for municipal dischargers, industrial dischargers, industrial users of municipal treatment works, and effluent limitations for toxic substances (Applicable to all dischargers).

Water Quality

The suitability of water for aquatic life and for human use depends on its quality. All natural waters contain dissolved inorganic and organic substances. The total dissolved solids burden of rivers is generally between 20 to 2,000 parts per million and may be higher in groundwater. In natural (unpolluted) surface waters, the major dissolved solids are calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, sulfate, chloride, carbonate, bicarbonate and silica. In the United States the average concentration of dissolved matter ranges from about 50 parts per million in the humid western mountains and the Appalachian up to 1,000 parts per million in the arid non-mountainous region of the West.

Many pollutants may also be found in solution, either as large increases of substances normally present, such as nitrates, phosphates and certain metals or as synthetic substances, such as pesticides. The PH of water, a measure of acidity of alkalinity, is an important quality increased (from normal pH of 5.6 to between pH 4 and 5) in some regions by atmospheric pollutants. Another measure of water quality is dissolved oxygen. Animals that live in water depend on dissolved oxygen for life. A marked decrease of dissolved oxygen because of bacterial decay of organic wastes has been a major impact of water pollutant.

Suspended sediment affect water quality by reducing light penetration, smothering fish eggs and other bottom life, filling lakes and reservoirs, and making water undesirable for many uses. Fecal coliform bacteria in water are an important index of water quality. Delivered from the intestines of mammals (including humans), they indicate the possibility that disease organisms are present. Water temperature, a final qualitative factor, influences the metabolic rate of aquatic organisms and the rates of chemical reactions. Significant increases of temperature caused by industrial discharges of heated water may be detrimental to aquatic life, a condition termed thermal pollution.