Toxic waste management and mitigation case study: metals found in river water and mud samples in East Jakarta area

Samples of mud, dug well, drill well, and river water were taken from 8 (eight] stations, which were located with in Sunter, Buaran, and Cipinang rivers, Cakng Drain, Saluran Air and Satu­ ran Bendungan Merah. They were taken in Juul 1997 based on Pro­ ject of Hdrogeology Research and Groundwater Development, on Monitoring of Waste Water, Geology Environmental Quality. Generally, metals concentration of Fe, Mn, Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni, Co and Cr, except Cd, occurred in river water are below the government regulation of water quality that is used as sources of drinking water (B-Group, The Government Regulation No. 20, 1990] and theEnvironmental Ministry Regulation of liquid waste [MENLH No. 51, Group II, 1995]The same metals measured from dug and dr~l water has its concentration less than it is in river water. It shous that metals from the river do not leak to dug and drill well; the appearance mostly is caused by local activities. Metals, which are not appeared in river water, however, are found in its mud samples, whereas the concentration is higher than its water concentration.$$River water in east Jakarta is still meeting the criteria of water source for drinking water. Metals in small concentration is needed for human life, however, in high concentration could be toxic to «aquatic and human life. Metals have been concentrated in mud; in fact its high concentration cold be derived from its natural condition or local activities. Rainfall, however, dilutes the water metals con­ centration and washes out the mud doumstream. Hence, the river has to be purified naturally or b some treat­ ments. Plants are preferably used for natural punification. For instance, Macrophtes roots could absorb heavy metals from water and sediment (mud}; they produce oxygen b day and organic mat­ ter from sewage, etc.,are broken doun by oxidation, and there foregeneral conservation using Macrophtes is easy, quick and cheap