Ketika Mata Air Sendang Tak Lagi Mengalir

Oleh: Noni Arnee

Semarang, JAWA TENGAH. Sendang-sendang di Sekaran, Kecamatan Gunungpati, Semarang, Jawa Tengah kehilangan air akibat perluasan pembangunan di kawasan Gunungpati yang menyebabkan krisis air. Akibatnya, warga harus mencari sumber air baru untuk memenuhi pasokan air.

“Ini Sendang Kali Bendo, airnya sejak dulu digunakan orang-orang untuk mandi, mencuci, dan memasak,” kenang Said (70), warga Kelurahan Sekaran, Gunungpati, sambil menunjuk sendang berukuran sekitar 12 meter persegi yang tertutup rumpun bambu, tak terawat dan kotor, terhimpit di belakang bangunan rumah, ruko dan sumur artesis. Lokasi sendang tersebut hanya berjarak sepuluh meter dari Jalan Raya Sekaran.

Said mengatakan bahwa air Sendang Kali Bendo jernih dan melimpah, dengan kedalaman lima meter, bahkan bisa meluap ke bibir sendang dan muncul tuk Belik, atau sumber air yang lebih kecil. Sebelum tahun 2000, air dari sendang menjadi konsumsi warga Sekaran setiap hari.

“Biasanya pagi dan sore ngangsu (Red: menimba air) dua pikul air ember besar dari sendang untuk memasak. Kalau mandi dan mencuci langsung di sendang. Banyak yang pakai air sendang, kadang kalau mandi sampai antre,” kata Said menambahkan air sendang juga dimanfaatkan oleh Kampung Banaran, yang berbatasan dengan Desa Sekarang.

Namun, kondisi tersebut berubah setelah pohon beringin, preh, dan munggur, dengan diameter seukuran dua rentangan tangan orang dewasa di sekitar Sendang Kali Bendo ditebang. Akibatnya, kedalaman menyusut dari lima meter menjadi sekitar dua meter.

“Awal tahun 2000an, pohon ditebang warga untuk menghilangkan kesan mistis. Ya, kira-kira sekitar lima tahun setelah itu, di sekitarnya banyak bangunan baru. Air sendang makin menyusut,” kenang Said.

Jumari, warga Sekaran, mengatakan hal serupa terjadi pada Sendang Kuwok yang kini hanya menjadi tetenger (red: ciri, tanda khas) kampung dan lokasi berdekatan dengan saluran pembuangan limbah rumah tangga..

“Dulu, airnya limpah-limpah dan jernih. Tapi, sekitar tahun 2005 pohon beringin penopang sendang roboh tertiup angin. Lama-lama air sendang tinggal genangan. Sekarang hanya jadi tempat cari lumut untuk umpan ikan,” jelas Jumari.

Nuryanto, warga Sekaran lainnya menimpali Sendang Wideng yang berjarak sekitar 200 meter dari Sendang Kuwok juga tak terurus, terhimpit bangunan permukiman, kos-kosan dan tegalan, dan kini lebih mirip kolam ikan dengan air hijau pekat. “Akhirnya, sendang tidak dipakai dan dibiarkan begitu saja. Tak ada yang mengurus,” timpal Nuryanto.

Pakar air dari Universitas Negeri Semarang, Dewi Liesnoor Setyawati mengungkapkan sumber mata air yang tidak terjaga dengan baik dan hilangnya vegetasi di sekitarnya berpengaruh pada menurunnya kualitas sumber mata air. Ditambah lagi, alih fungsi lahan akibat masifnya pembangunan memberikan andil terhadap penurunan potensi keberlanjutan sumber air.

“Air sendang menyusut, mengering dan mati, tidak terawat karena tidak digunakan masyarakat. Atau sengaja di “matikan” dan hilang dengan alasan pembangunan jalan, perumahan atau alih fungsi lahan lainnya,” ungkap Dewi.

Beralih ke Sumber Air Baru

Akibat menyusutnya kedalaman air sendang, warga Sekaran, Gunungpati pun kemudian beralih dari mata air sendang pada sumber air baru untuk memenuhi kebutuhan air bersih. 

Mereka pun mulai membangun sumur-sumur dangkal di sekitar halaman rumah sejak akhir tahun 1990an. Kedalaman sumur-sumur tersebut berkisar antara 15-20 meter.

“Untuk kebutuhan air, akhirnya membuat sumur gali. Memang lebih praktis tapi mahal. Ya, mau gimana lagi karena air sendang sudah tidak mencukupi,” kata Said, warga Sekaran.

Meski demikian, ia mengatakan bahwa sumur dangkal tidak menyelesaikan persoalan karena seiring waktu debit air sumur dangkal juga akan menyusut, terutama saat musim kemarau. Tidak sedikit, lanjutnya, warga menggali hingga kedalaman 25-35 meter untuk memperoleh air.

“Untung-untungan juga bisa keluar airnya. Ada yang menggali tidak keluar air. Makanya ada rumah punya dua sumur gali. Kalau sudah tidak keluar air, bikin baru. Beda, dulu gampang air sekarang susah air,” lanjutnya.

Moechammad Sholeh, Kepala Seksi Ketentraman dan Ketertiban Umum Kelurahan Sekaran, Gunungpati mengungkap kualitas air sumur dangkal di Sekaran relatif tidak bagus. “Air sumur gali sedalam 20 meter saja airnya masih keruh seperti ada karatnya, kuning-kuning,”ungkap Soleh.

Secara umum, Nuryanto mengatakan  warga Sekaran kini memanfaatkan sumber air tanah lewat sumur artesis untuk memenuhi kebutuhan ar.

“Warga pakai sumur bor dari pemerintah. Tapi, kebutuhan air meningkat terus. Jadi warga bikin sumur baru yang dikelola swadaya. Kalau punya uang, bikin sumur bor sendiri,” kata Nuryanto.

Moechammad Sholeh mengakui sumur artesis memang membawa kemudahan bagi warga untuk mengakses air bersih. Hal ini mendorong peningkatan pengguna air bawah tanah (ABT).

Berdasarkan data Kelurahan Sekaran dan Pemerintah Kota Semarang tahun 2018, ada sepuluh titik pengguna ABT yang dikomersialkan dengan tarif Rp 2500 per meter kubik, dengan total konsumsi mencapai 20ribu meter kubil per hari.

“Kedalamannya (sumur ABT milik warga) berkisar antara 70-100 meter. Rata-rata pemakaian per titik 2 ribu meter kubik perhari disalurkan ke warga. Kalau untuk pemakaian pribadi memang belum terdata.”

Soleh mengatakan bahwa setiap rumah memiliki ABT, terutama rumah yang disewakan kepada mahasiswa.

“PDAM hingga kini belum masuk ke Sekaran. Kami tidak bisa melarang ABT karena tidak ada alternatif lain. Apa boleh buat. Ini kebutuhan,” jelas Soleh menambahkan setidaknya 400 rumah kost yang ada di Sekaran hingga tahun 2016.

Upaya Konservasi

Kepala Unit Pengelola Teknis Pengembang Konservasi Universitas Negeri Semarang (Unnes), Amin Retnoningsih mengatakan pihak universitas ikut bertanggungjawab terhadap degradasi lingkungan di Gunungpati, yang merupakan daerah penyangga Kota Semarang.

Namun, Amin mengatakan butuh upaya terus menerus dan waktu untuk memperbaikinya termasuk mengambalikan sumber-sumber mata air dan mengatasi persoalan krisis air pada masa datang.

“Alih fungsi lahan hijau menjadi pemukiman tentu mengurangi kawasan hijau untuk mengikat air,” kata Amin.

Lima tahun dikukuhkan sebagai Universitas Konservasi pada 12 Maret 2010, Unnes mengeluarkan Masterplan Unnes 2015-2025 sebagai bagian dari strategi dan program pengembangan konservasi.

Rencana besar konservasi Unnes tersebut mencakup pembangunan embung berkapasitas lima ribu meter kubik, rumah kebun Unnes seluas 2,2 hektar yang ditanami 100 jenis pohon, sumur resapan, biopori dan penanaman pohon, di dalam area kampus .

“Embung berfungsi menampung air hujan dan air limpasan. Mahasiswa wajib menanam pohon setiap tahun, di dalam kampus maupun di kawasan Gunungpati. Menanam pohon sebanyak-banyaknya itu salah satu yang paling mudah dilakukan,” jelas Amin menambahkan sekitar 110 ribu pohon, seperti mahoni, akasia, sengon, glodogan tiang, kersen, Sawo Kecik durian, rambutan, mangga, dan belimbing, yang ditanam sejak delapan tahun terakhir.

Moechammad Sholeh, Kepala Seksi Ketentraman dan Ketertiban Umum Kelurahan Sekaran, Gunungpati menandaskan pihak Keluarahan Sekaran bekerja sama dengan Unnes, tidak hanya menghijaukan lahan kosong, sepanjang jalan dan halaman rumah warga. Kerja sama tersebut juga mengajak warga membangun sumur resapan dan biopori.

“Dulu lahan di Sekaran banyak pohon-pohon besar kemudian ditebang untuk rumah dan usaha. Wilayah Sekaran nyaris habis untuk rumah semua. Sekarang warga diajak menanam lagi.  Izin bangunan disertai persyaratan pembuatan sumur resapan atau biopori. Ada pernyataan bermaterai. Kalau tidak begitu lama-lama sumber air habis dan kita yang bingung,” tandas Soleh.

Wakil Wali Kota Semarang Hevearita Gunaryanti Rahayu mengakui banyak lahan hijau di Gunungpati yang kini berubah menjadi perumahan dan pengembangan bisnis berdampak pada degradasi lingkungan. Salah satunya dengan hilangnya tangkapan air tanah yang menyebabkan krisis air bersih.

“Lahan-lahan resapan dijadikan permukiman baru. Ini memang tidak bisa dihindari karena Kota Semarang merupakan kota metropolitan. Pemkot akan memperbanyak ruang terbuka hijau dan warga dihimbau menanam pohon,” jelas Hevearita.

Amin berharap warga memahami bahwa penanaman pohon untuk memperbaiki fungsi utama kawasan sebagai daerah resapan air tidak bisa bersifat instan. Tapi, ia mengatakan penanaman pohon sudah menunjukkan perubahan dalam lima tahun, meskipun belum signifikan.

“Semua pihak bisa terus berusaha menjaga siklus hidrologi dan penyedia air sehingga ke depan akan banyak tumbuh pohon-pohon besar dan muncul lagi mata air yang menjadi bagian dari ekosistem kawasan penyangga,” harapnya.

Namun, ia mengakui bahwa upaya konservasi di luar area kampus belum maksimal karena keterbatasan kewenangan Unnes.

“Kami edukasi agar warga bersedia menanam. Seluruh bibit pohon kami sediakan. Masalahnya masyarakat mintanya pohon buah karena mengharapkan hasil. Jadi sering tidak sesuai antara persediaan dan permintaan,” keluh Amin.

Jumari, warga Sekaran mengakui menginginkan pohon bernilai ekonomis. “Maunya bukan menanam pohon iyup-iyupan (Red: pohon peneduh) saja. Tapi pohon yang hasilnya bisa dipanen seperti jambu, rambutan dan durian,” harap Jumari.

Menurut Dewi Liesnoor Setyawati, butuh peran semua pihak untuk memperbaiki lingkungan, termasuk dalam pengelolaan sumber daya air berkelanjutan. Tidak hanya aturan tapi butuh andil masyarakat dan kearifan lokal setempat sebagai strategi konservasi yang efektif. “Seperti keberlanjutan mata air sendang dan mata air lainnya yang kecil-kecil, harapannya pemerintah lokal desa dan warga bisa mengambil peran,” saran Dewi. EKUATORIAL.

Are We Walking Alone in Facing Climate Change?*

I was born and grew up in Semarang, capitol of Central Java. Yeah, Semarang is a coastal city. And many people hear about Semarang will definitely remember the local song titled "Semarang Kaline Banjir”. 

Peoples lives in Semarang really knew that Semarang has flooded by rob and abrasion. We usually called Rob and Abrasion for sea level rise and coastal erosion.

Every year. Flooding by Rob and abrasion became a common sight in my town. Even could have sunk the buildings, roads, markets, houses and many infrastructures. And the condition would get worse at the beginning of the month.

At the time I didn't have any personal concern to this coastal city because I moved to Jakarta for studied and worked. But 12 years ago, I decided to back to my hometown and started my career as a journalist on a local broadcast radio. I covered local issues, government, economy, and ceremonial activities. Yes, almost local journalists did just like I did. Worked every day as the boss wish. I almost did the same thing  everyday that really made me feels like a robot.

2 years later, I got an email invitation from Deutsche Welle Germany to submit a climate change story in Indonesia and became a fellow to covering climate change. This story will be published by  Deutsche Welle Radio  at COP 13 in Bali in 2007.

I was so glad even though I really didn't have any interesting ideas for my proposal to be approved. I didnt know coz Climate change was something that I never think deeply. I never learned before to understand this issue.

Then I remembered “Semarang Kaline Banjir”. Rob and abrasion became my idea of my stories on climate change. Then I went and traced the worst areas along the coast of Java that was hit by sea level rise and coastal erosion. I worked for 2 weeks, saw the impact, met local people, scientist, find the document researches.

And from my experience, I learned many things. Not only about reporting techniques, but also learned to understand the real climate change issues and brought to the local context.

Sayung, Demak, Central Java one of the village I visited, had been abandoned by almost the entire people. Yes, many villages along the north coastal of Java are threatened to disappear by coastal erosion.  I met the researchers who had a lot of research on the topic said that coastal erosion in Java occurred since 60 years ago. Land subsidence  and sea level rise reaching a quarter centimeter per year due to global warming. Massive buildings construction and groundwater suction also make the land subsidence  an average at 20 centimeters per year.

I went to Sayung many times, and the last time was the end of last year. Some area was getting worst than before.

Pak Nurohman, a local resident accompanied me to traced the village by perahu (a small boat) because it was the only way to reach the place. My memory back to the first time I came to the village 9 years before. At that time, half of the houses had been left by residents because the houses had been damaged, destroyed, just like living debris, and sunk by coastal erosion.

Several local residents still lived there. The fisherman went to the sea as the main livelihood. Economic activity was still alive, of course in a bad situation. The main road in the village was still passable by cars. I walked down and follow the path to the edge of the village.

But, what we saw was just only memory. Everything I've seen in this village 9 years ago was gone. I only saw the roofs of houses and mangrove trees that become the habitat of herons.

Yeah of course, The government also seeks to solve the problem. Build green belt, the breakwater with billions of fund, revitalization fish cultivation. And revitalizing the mangrove ecosystem that is considered the best solution.

The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries also restoring the coastline with Nature Building Program to built a coastal shelter natural waves breaker called hybrid engineering from twigs and wood. This technology was adopted from Netherlands and believed to be able to reduce coastal erosion rate and stabilize the coastline.

Many Efforts to adapt to self-help by local people with build breakwater, plants mangroves, make the stage house. But Its not comparable with the massive disaster in front of their eyes. Coastal erosion continued to crash the lives of hundreds of families in Village. Many villages in Sayung were sinking. Houses and infrastructure are destroyed, economic slumps, they lost livelihoods and social relations ties.

The local government considers that relocation to be the best choice for them. But is that the best choice? 

I was remembered Pak Sumadi, a local resident in Tanggultlare, Jepara, north coast of Java who I met. He showed his sunken village in the middle of the sea. He told me how hard to adaptand living in a new place. Not enough one time relocation, coastal erosion makes Saadah, an old woman in Jepara and other residents relocated up to 3 times. They live in a new village, which is 5 kilometers from the origin village. But that was 9 years ago. What happens right now? Honestly, I don't know.

Coastal erosion that occurred in Sayung area, Central Java for the last 20 years was estimated to be the largest in coastal areas in Indonesia. The area affected by erosion reached more than 20,000 hectares causing the coastline retreating along 5 kilometers from the coastline in 1994.

Some local people who choose to survive adapt, makes a village regulations to protect coastal areas with mangrove conservation and prohibition shoot herons. Developing mangrove ecotourism, mangrove culinary and mangrove batik to improve  economic life.

Adaptation to the nature also are done by farmers in Temanggung, in the highlands in the south of Java, those who fought for the droughts every years. They build fog harvesting to collect water sources like the farmer in Cuba did.  They work together with Gajahmada University students to apply and trial the first eco-friendly technology in Indonesia.

But it didn’t last long because there was no support from the local farmer's community and local government. Farmers seem to face it themselves.  fog harvesting tools from nets and bamboo were damaged. Farmers helpless and they failed to harvest vegetable crops and paddy.

Yes, Indonesia had a serious threatening and vulnerability the impacts of climate change. Not only sea level rise, disturbances in the agricultural sector, droughts and food security. But the loss of rainforests because of palm oil and forests fires are the greatest threat and challenge. It  increases Indonesia's greenhouse gas emissions significantly.

Harvest failures, food crises, and forest fire are common and become subscriptions every year. The disaster is actually in sight and it should not be regarded as ordinary. too much of a real impact.  But we seem to look that the existing problems not the impact of climate change because this happens with various other causes.

Nature will always seek to balance. But, is it fair that those who will suffer are who have been living in harmony side by side with nature?

Yeah, it probably will not happen if the media take the role and influence and become a bridge between citizens and governments to combat climate change.

The lack of media to covering climate change and environmental issues occurs because the media seem don’t care about this issue. The media industry only pursuing profits with attracts public attention with  politics, economics, and national issues than climate change. That’s  may be the reason why almost all media in Indonesia dont have an environmental rubrication. I observed only large companies such as Kompas daily with environmental rubrics combined with science technology and health. BBC Indonesia. Natgeo. Or mongabay.id and green radio that is focused on environmental issues.

This condition makes journalist lack ability and understanding to covering this specific issue. Journalists don’t have discourse and any concern. I said that because of many media not willing to spend money for journalists and no much space in the media to cover this issues. 

Yes, I am sure that the media keeps reporting on climate change and the environmental issue but within the framework of news events, such as a live report of floods and forest fires. Not look at climate change context.

Many efforts to reduce the impact of climate change in Indonesia, but so far not been maximized. It's as if we are in Indonesia running on our own. Farmers and fishermen adapt them selves. The central government and local governments also had policy making with they own way.

The other hand, many  journalists try to bring and present environmental and climate change issues by involved in organization. In Indonesia, we have many such like The Society of Indonesian Environmental Journalists and The Alliance of Independent Journalists. 

Coz, Not only having high vitality, Organization is one of the best way for Indonesian journalists to get connected, networking, and meet scientists who have a lot of research on climate change. And provides many opportunities for journalists to improve their skills with training, workshops, fellowship, assistance, and advocacy if journalists are in trouble in the field.

I know it is not easy but it's not difficult either. The Press become the most effective medium to awake peoples to makes them realize and aware of the worst effects of climate change. I am sure if journalists and the media have discourse and concern that this is important.  They can do this.

Journalists and media have a role to inform, to voice, and to give understanding to the public that climate change is real. Climate change is around us, and impact on us. This is a challenge for us to hand in hand. Not walking alone in facing climate change! 

*My Presentation in public lecture at Regional Conference, Getting The Message Across “Telling the Story of Global Change: Better Journalistic Reporting on Climate Change and Sustainable Development”, 8 - 10 November 2017, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

UNESCO in partnership with Nottingham University and The Universiti Sains Malaysia.