Perceptions of community on efforts to address waste and odor issues in Kali Sentiong: An evaluation of the waring fabric installation and water hyacinth planting initiatives

Abstract

Background: Kali Sentiong, commonly known as Kali Item, is a river in Jakarta plagued by unresolved issues of waste and unpleasant odors. The Head of the Environmental Control and Regulation Division of the DKI Jakarta Environmental Agency reported that the Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) of Kali Item exceeds the standard threshold, measuring 16.43 ppm. This research aims to assess community perceptions regarding the management of Kali Item following the installation of the netting and the proposed planting of Water Hyacinth. Method: A qualitative approach with triangulation methods was employed for data collection, including interviews with selected respondents from the surrounding area and observations. Interview results revealed that some informants considered the netting effective in mitigating odors, while others believed both the netting and the Water Hyacinth would not effectively address the odor issues in Kali Item. Findings: Additionally, research findings indicate that the Fecal Coliform levels are 30,000 times above the permissible limits. The Jakarta Provincial Government has undertaken various initiatives to address these problems under the leadership of Fauzi Bowo, Jokowi, Basuki, and currently Anies. In preparation for the 2018 Asian Games, which attracted international guests, the government focused on Kali Item due to its proximity—less than one kilometer—to the Athletes’ Village, causing noticeable odors. The government installed a protective netting at a cost of IDR 560,000,000.00, but the netting deteriorated within a year due to damage caused by illegal waste dumping. This led to the removal of the netting and the introduction of a plan to plant Water Hyacinth (Eceng Gondok) in the river. However, the government's efforts to resolve the issues of Kali Item have not yet succeeded, largely due to the persistent problematic behavior of the community. This is suspected to be due to differing perceptions of the government's initiatives.