The Urgent of Floods Problems in Jakarta
By Alvaro Syammari — 1209623047
The word “flood” is so familiar to people who live in Jakarta. From the past until now, flood in Jakarta is still an unresolved problem. There are so many things that can cause floods in Jakarta, such as the lack of natural water infiltration, people just littering everywhere, and poor system of drainage. Floods can be very distressing, it interferes with daily activities such as students can be late to get to school if the roads are flooded, valuables items at home can be lost in the current of water, and the worst it can take someone’s life. The role of the government and society take the same amount of importance to prevent floods. The more floods are ignored, the more new problems will arise or the more fatalities will increase in the future. It becomes clear that the solution to floods is desperately needed. With all the worst things that can happen with floods, there are a few things to help reduce the occurrence of flooding.
Begin with plant trees, the role of government and society to plant tress all in Jakarta area can help reduce flooding. Trees release water back into the atmosphere after absorbing it by their roots. As a result, there is less water runoff during periods of high rainfall, which slows down water flow and lowers the chance of flash floods. The next solution is creating adequate drainage. One of the causes of flood is poor drainage which cannot holds all the water that comes in when it rains. Effective drainage can quickly remove the rainwater on the roads, preventing from pooling and causing flooding. Third, increasing public awareness of floods. Even as simple as it sounds but this can be effective, some people are chattering about the flood that they are experiencing and blame the government, but they are also contributing to it. Some people are just littering everywhere making road channels blocked by rubbish. By increasing public awareness, making people aware of the environment and starting to reduce floods from themselves. With posters, videos on social media, and seminars as methods to increase awareness, it provides more information of how to contribute to reduce floods. Lastly, create and spread water catchments throughout the city. Water catchment works to collect rainwater and store it for later use, instead of just letting it flow off. The rainwater can be used for human needs such as irrigation, toilet flushing, and others. It not only becomes water reservation but also lessens runoff, which helps prevent flooding.
To sum up, floods are a serious problem in Jakarta. It brings negative impacts on society, the problem that caused by flood can become a long-term problem if not treated immediately. The solutions are needed to prevent flooding in Jakarta, starting with planting trees, creating adequate drainage, increasing awareness, and creating and spreading water catchment in the city can be good steps to prevent floods in Jakarta.
