Water Security In Tunda Island, Banten Indonesia: Potency & Threat

Abstract

Water availability and management for water security on small islands are critical. The purpose of this research is to uncover the water resources issue at a small island community level as well as discourse on the potential threats and sustainable management for water security. Tunda Island, located in the Java Sea, is one of 81 small islands in Banten Province, Indonesia. Data were collected through focus group discussions, open interviews with key persons, direct field observations, and secondary data gathering. Moreover, we analyzed time series climate data, particularly rainfall and population growth projections, based on data from official Indonesian government sites. The monthly mean precipitation is ranging from a low of 48 mm/month in August to a high of 292 mm/month in January. A “surplus of water” occurs from November to May, while months with a “deficit of water” occur from June to October. The majority of the community is unaware of the water security issue due to a lack of information and knowledge in the community. Some threats to the sustainability of water resources would be caused by two factors, both anthropogenical and natural: rising water demand, diminishing groundwater reserves due to population growth and tourism activities on the island, drought, sea level rise, and seawater intrusion as climate-related impacts due to increasing population growth and tourism activities on the island and drought, sea level rise and seawater intrusion as climate-related impacts. Developing community knowledge and awareness of water security is the main issue that should be handled first, coinciding with sustainable management practices that consider water use efficiency, the use of alternative water sources (e.g., rainwater harvesting), and protecting and restoring coastal ecosystems, especially for the future tourist destination.