ITN Malang Develops Conservation-Based Flood Control Model

TIMESINDONESIA, JAKARTA – Institut Teknologi Nasional (ITN) Malang is developing flood control model that based on conservation of water resources.

This model is developed by Dr Ir Kustamar MT, The Vice Rector of Institut Teknologi Nasional (ITN) Malang with the expert team on water resource engineering.

Kustamar said that within four years ahead, he will study this conservation-based flood control model in the Sampang regency, Madura Island.

He said that Sampang is chosen as research object because the flood in this region can be triggered by many aspect, whether it's natural or unnatural.

"The flood in Sampang is so complete, from watershed factor which is alreay has problem naturally, but also the soil is Madura is clay type so the infiltrations level is low," he said.

Besides that, the town area in Sampang also sustained many narrowing on its drainage channel, plus there is also tide that affects the estuary. This condition makes Sampang considered have complete and complex flood problem, thus makes it perfect for research location.

Kustamar explains that he planned to apply several concept of water conservation-based flood control for his research. The first is the use of communal infiltration wells that modified so water can infiltrate the soil intact. This method will be perfect for dense settlement.

"One communal infiltration wells can be used for several houses, it can reached up to 10 houses," he said.

The other concept is with the water injected directly into the land. This method applied only when there is rain. The injected water thus can be used as reserve in the dry season.

"When it's rain, the water is injected into the land, let it stay there. When it's full, it will flow by itself, released by nature," Kustamar add.

Despite that, Kustamar warns that the quality of water should be controlled so it won't harm the nature. Thus, the team from ITN develops a filter that can screen the rainwater so it won't pollute the aquiver, and it also able to collect more water.

"In my calculation, this method can increase up to 300 to 600 percent capacity of the standard infiltration wells," he add.

According to Kustamar, the application of this control method can replace the pattern to date, which is free from flood anyway, or the puddle becomes water infiltration as much as possible.

Kustamar underlines that the advantages of this conservation-based flood control is lied on the optimal participation of people as government's partner for searching long-term flood solution. Of course, to handle the flood problem is the ultimate target of this concept.

"Slow but sure, education will run through next generation, because this activity is held on the settlement," Kustamar continued.

He also warns that the government's intervention also important throughout the regulation, especially the funding to build communal infiltration wells. Funding by Directorate General of Higher Education (DIKTI), this research will involve the experts from geodesy, environmental and information technology.

The involvement of information technology in this case is to support the building of early warning system for flood. "One of my wishes is we could predict the flood several day onward," he said.

Kustamar also wishes this flood control model from his research in Sampang, will be developed in another region. "My orientation is how community empowerment could be so constructive. The people can be the partner to problem-solving," he concluded. (*)

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