The Complexities of Water Governance in Indonesia: Understanding Hydrogeology for Effective Policy-Making

Dasapta Erwin Irawan, Cindy Priadi, Deny Juanda Puradimaja, and Taat Setiawan

Submitted to: PLOS Water

Abstract

Groundwater, despite being a crucial resource for human survival and development, often remains overlooked in water management policies due to its invisible nature. In Indonesia, where local water supply companies can only meet about 40% of total water needs, groundwater plays a particularly vital role in sustaining households, businesses, and industries. This paper examines the complexities of groundwater governance, emphasizing how its invisible nature leads to undervaluation and mismanagement. We discuss five key aspects that policymakers must understand about hydrogeology: groundwater behavior, surface water interactions, human impacts, associated risks, and sustainable management principles. Through case studies of the Citarum River Basin and Lake Toba, we illustrate how competing interests between business, political, and environmental stakeholders can complicate water resource management. The paper concludes that effective groundwater governance requires not only technical understanding but also careful consideration of stakeholder conflicts while prioritizing public welfare and environmental sustainability.