Journal of Disaster Management & Environment

Edition: April - June 2007 Year XII No. 46

ISSN : 0853-845X

Learning From Mud-Flow sidoarjo Disaster

Amien Widodo

Environmental Dispute Resolution By Means of Disaster Management

Perpectives to Reduce Potential Conflicts
Eko Teguh Paripurno

Application of Speleology As One of The Efforts to Solve Water Crisis

in The Karst Area in Gunung Kidul
Fredy Chandra

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EDITORIAL

Phenomenom of nature process that occur hazard problems almost never over and
continue in Indonesia. A moment after Yogyakarta Earthquake shocked, Lapindo
Hot-Mud Flow at Sidoarjo, east Java become serious and have not treat good
enougth until now. Jakarta have had to face Flood during rainy season, a year ago.
And now when dry season start a while after rainy season, we aware about water
cricis will attack same as the past time.

Are we ready to face the hazard? It is a simple question, but need time and process
for answer it that we are ready face them. Through several nature phenomenom and
human error in manage nature resources, we should can evaluate further could be a
lesson learn for us to be more ready face the hazard. The purpose is to reduce
disaster risk maximal.

In Hot-mud flow at Sidoarjo, East Java lesson learn, it become important thing to do.
Areal and nature resources management also interesting topic, because there have
conflict and disaster potential occur when mal-managing system and wrong do.
Geological condition in one areal also need to be understood togheter because of in
nature phenomena evant have strong relation with the geologic condition in that
areal, like in kars region where often face water cricis, and how to apply a good and
effective technology to solve the problem and managing one areal properly.

In the end , hope from several article inside this KAPAI edition could be usefull as a
lesson learn material for all of us to reduce disaster risk in our nation.

Best regard

editor

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CONTENT

Editorial i

Content ii

Contributor iii

Learning From Mud-Flow sidoarjo Disaster

Amien Widodo..1

Environmental Dispute Resolution By Means of Disaster Management

Perpectives to Reduce Potential Conflicts
Eko Teguh Parpurno5

Application of Speleology As One of The Efforts to Solve Water Crisis in The

Karst Area in Gunung Kidul
Fredy Chandra.....9

iii
CONTRIBUTOR

Amien Widodo, lecturer at Department of Civil Engineering, FTSP

Surabaya Technology Institute. Currently as Jendral Secretary of
MPBI.

Eko Teguh Paripurno, Coordinator of Disaster Research, eduction

and Management (Dream) UPN Veteran Yogyakarta, also
Lecturer at Mineral Faculty, Geological engineering department.
Now study at Padjajaran National University, Bandung for Doctoral
degree.
.

Fredy Chandra, Staff at Disaster Research, education and

Management (Dream) UPN Veteran Yogyakarta, also actively as
a member of Speleology community Acintyacunyata
Speleological club, Yogyakarta.

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 LEARNING FROM SIDOARJO MUDFLOW DISASTER

By: Amien Widodo

Centre for Disaster Study,
LPPM of Surabaya Institute for Technology (ITS), Surabaya

It has been eight months since hot mud has been outpouring in Porong, Sidoarjo,
East Java Province. Since then, there has not been any sign that the flow will stop. On the
other hand, the flow has increased and crept up higher and higher to form a mud volcano.
The hot mud and its increasing volume may result in sequential harmful consequences that
resemble a chain collision, such as the submerging of paddy fields, residential areas, toll road,
factories, railway lines, industrial piping network, telecommunication network, state electricity
enterprise (PLN) network, water pipe network, and other infrastructures. Other subsequent
impacts include people displacement, unemployment, and disruption of the economy in East
Java. Therefore, management of such a disaster will be very complex and risky, involve many
actors and many science disciplines, and require a lot of funds.
The mudflow disaster in Sidoarjo is an example of a man-made disaster triggered by
industrial activities and has turned into an unprecedented disaster that goes out of hand. The
disaster occurs as a result of the drilling operation by PT Lapindo Brantas. The drilling has
penetrated diapir structure containing salty water, mud and high pressure gas. Diapir is one of
the geological structures that are mostly mushroom-like and formed as a result of natural
pressure from horizontal and vertical directions. Diapir that protrudes on the earth surface both
naturally or as a result of drilling activities is called the mud volcano.
The hot mud industrial disaster is only one among the many cases of industrial
disasters that have occurred in Indonesia. We have experienced many occurrences of man-
driven disasters and industrial accidents. They are among others: (1) on 5 November 1993,
there was a leak and explosion of chlorine tank in PT. Indorayon Utama in Porsea, Tapanuli
Utara district; (2) In 1994, an ammonia leak occurred in PT. Pupuk Iskandar Muda in
Lhokseumawe, Aceh Utara district; (3) In 1995, in Cilacap, Central Java, a fuel oil (BBM) tank
exploded and a fuel oil storage tank was on fire as well; (4) On 25 March 1999, an ammonia
(NH3) gas leak occurred in PT. Ajinomoto in Mojokerto; (5) In 2002, cane molasses of
Ngadirejo Kediri sugar factory spilled into the Brantas River; (6) on 20 January 2004, an
explosion of the Maleic anhydride phytalic anhydride unit occurred in PT. Petrowidada
Gresik; (7) end of May 2006, there was an underground blow-out in PT Lapindo Brantas Inc.,
resulting in the outpouring of hot mud from the exploration well.
Considering its unprecedented adverse impacts to its environment, it is high time to
build preparedness to industrial disaster or what is previously known as industrial accident.
Every industrial activity could pose a potential risk that may develop into accident. It could be
personal accident, damage of equipments, declining or diminishing productivity and goods,
and environmental degradation. Efforts to raise public awareness and preparedness to
hazards in their environment can reduce the impact of small-scale as well as catastrophic
disasters. Generally, industries have specific standard operational procedures (SOP) in
emergency so that any industrial accident can be confined to the industrial area only. In some
cases, however, the impacts are beyond the borders of the industrial zone and affect the
surroundings, such as residential areas, infrastructures, and the environment. A number of
catastrophic examples include the industrial accident in Bhopal, India in 1984, which took
many lives, the Sandoz warehouse fire near Basel in 1986 which had greatly contaminated the
Rheine River, and shipwrecked of Exxon Valdez oil tanker.
Disaster can result in immediate as well as prolonged impact. The scale of loss and
extent of impact of an accident highly corresponds with the early response within the industrial
area and by the local community.

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 This paper intends to enhance our awareness to immediately shift our belief from
the old paradigm to a new paradigm of cooperation between industry, local government and
local community around the industrial area.

Integrated Emergency Planning (APELL)

Occurrences of industry-related disaster both within the country and in other

countries indicate that industry does not have proper emergency plan. Among the gaps is lack
of participation of the local community around the industry. If this condition continues,
distortion among the industry, local government and local community can happen. We have
heard of the many industries that raise problems to the surrounding communities and that
have led to the disruption of the industries activities after local community throw stones, set
fire, and even blockade and occupy an industrial area to have their demands met. An instance
of this is the occupation of the Energi Mega Persada natural gas station in Pulau Kangean by
the Kangean community.

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has developed a methodology

for integrated emergency planning widely known as APELL (Awareness and Preparedness for
Emergency at Local Level) (Figure 1). APELL is a methodological tool developed by UNEP in
cooperation with the government and industry to minimise occurrences and the adverse
impacts of industrial/technological disasters. APELL was launched in 1988 based on the high
numbers of industrial accidents that have created health problems and environmental
degradation. APELL basic principles are (1) to enhance the awareness of community,
industry/business actors and local as well as central government; (2) increase preparedness
and emergency response planning to deal with future disasters resulting from industrial
accidents that put the environment into danger, by involving the participation of the entire
community, together with the industry and local government . APELL mainly focuses to
enhance awareness in emergency plan, together with all local stakeholders.
APELL process is implemented by involving the local community and the rest of the
population at local,
regional and international
level. Territorial and
jurisdiction boundaries do
not limit the involvement
of all elements in APELL
process. On the other
hand, the process
highlights the needs to
develop a coordinated
emergency response
planning.

Figure 1 APELL Integrated Community Response Planning

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 To ensure the success of APELL, involvement of three very important partners are
required. They are
1. Local authorities (local government). It includes government bodies or high
officials at the provincial, district, and municipality level that have been assigned or selected to
be responsible for the safety and health of the population as well as the environmental
protection of their area. Local authorities have the right to manage available resources to deal
with emergency situation to ensure effective response to industrial disasters using the
available resources.

2. Industry. Manager of either state-owned or private companies is held responsible

for safety and accident prevention. Standard operational procedures in planning for specific
emergency response in a factory should be in place and updated. Chair persons or leaders of
growing and expanding industries are in the best positions to establish link with community
leaders and local authorities to raise awareness and provide proper information on how
industrial facilities work and what their impacts are to the environment, as well as help them to
develop emergency response planning.

3. Local community, which comprises of the local community around the industrial
facilities and other interested groups such as environmental organisations/NGOs, social
organisations, the media and religious organisations as well as leader of educational
organisations that represent the community. Other significant partner is the NGO.
APELL provides information and knowledge on decision making to local community
relating to hazards that threaten their community. After identification of potential risks of
industrial accidents, local government, industry and community leaders will form coordination
group. This coordination group will develop 10 steps of action as follows:
Step 1. Establish joint commitment. At this step, each stakeholder (among the
government- industry-community) needs to brainstorm and be transparent to each other, for
instance industrial sector needs to provide detail information about their plan of operation,
what profit they expect they can generate for the area or the government and what potential
risks they bring and what are the ways to reduce risks. At this step, all suggestions from each
stakeholder are coordinated to become an integrated planning. This step can be implemented
during the planning stage of industrial facilities, before industrial facilities are established, after
industrial facilities are established, or during and after a disaster occur.
Step 2. Jointly identify and evaluate hazards and risks to reduce risks. This step is
jointly carried out to identify hazards, analyse potential risks and minimise risks as much as
possible. At this step, risk map and hazard map are jointly developed. Development of such
maps is significant for the local community because the map will include the boundaries of the
communitys houses and lands that will be greatly influenced by the hazard that will eventually
affect their activities.
Step 3-7. Emergency response system planning. With this step, it is intended that
the developed planning does not create undesirable impacts considering that the resulted
maps have the potential to create disruption to the community and surrounding infrastructures.
At this step, an emergency response unit at community level, a rescue team, command
system with command leader in each zone in the hazard map are formed.
Figure 2 illustrates a mechanism system of emergency response to industrial
disasters.
.

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 Emergency response at
community level

Emergency response team

Physical protection
Emergency Shutdown
Danger alert/alarm
Danger alert/alarm 1
PROCESS
Figure 2 Safety Zoning System

Step 8-10. Efforts in communication, monitoring, socialisation, and awareness

education of the community. Final joint planning that has been approved and made available
in written and simple format is distributed to members of the community and continues to be
communicated, tested, reviewed and updated.
APELL is an example or model of settlement that has long been developed by the
UN. It remains a question whether Indonesia is capable of accommodating the programme.
APELL is different from community development (COMDEV) or corporate social responsibility
(CSR) because APELL is based on emergency situation created by industry.
Basic question remains as to whether industry and the government will have the
willingness to be transparent to the local community.

Bibliography:
National Workshop on Emergency Preparedness for Environmental/Industrial Disaster, March
28-29, 2006, Surabaya, proceedings.

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 ENVIRONMENTAL DISPUTE RESOLUTION BY MEANS OF DISASTER MANAGEMENT
PERSPECTIVES TO REDUCE POTENTIAL CONFLICTS

PORTRAIT OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL DISPUTE

The conceptual frame of this idea is environmental management by perspective of

community based disaster management. In brief, disaster management is any efforts to
reinforce environmental governance system at local communities and any upper levels to
reduce impacts of environmental problem as roots of disasters. Furthermore, they are
conducted in order to make the community feel secure in sustainable resource managing.
The disputes between agents of social-environmental components dominate the
portrait of the environmental disputes in Indonesia, leaving agents of physiochemical and
biotic agents as victims of the overall disputes. However, parties of the disputes are
community and industrial doers. Vertical dispute between communities (considered as the
victim) versus industrials develops into horizontal one, dispute among community: community
as victims and community as labours. Community are eager to terminate the factory since it
pollutes river and food crops. On the other hand, for labours, the factory termination means
termination of their livelihood. Pure environmental dispute among community occurs when a
community becomes the victim of environmental damages which are resulted by another one.
Moreover, inter-societal dispute occurs in East Java on the late of 2001. Community lives in
low land consider those live in edges of the forest are doers of forest destruction result in the
frequent floods and erosion.

RESOLUTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL DISPUTES

Resolution of environmental dispute can be carried out within or without legal

procedures. However, there is a tendency to look for resolution by means of legal procedures
though the results are not satisfying. Any of those cases handled in legal procedures tend to
be civil cases. In other words, environmental disputes find solutions when there are
compensations of the material and immaterial suffers are delivered. Meanwhile, it is clear that
according to the laws, every action results in pollution will be prosecuted with criminal law.
Alternative mechanisms in resolution of disputes are negotiation and mediation.
Indeed, negotiation is a term, which is known very well especially by industrialists. Negotiation
is a verbal effort between parties involved in resolution of dispute. Meanwhile, mediation is
similar with negotiation, which is attended by the third neutral party who has the authority to
make decision. The third party is known as mediator functioned to facilitate parties in the
dispute in order to reach agreement for the negotiation. It seems that the mediation gives
some better chances, i.e.: (1) the framework of the problems can be widely and completely
discussed, (2) the solution can be briefly conducted, (3) the process is well mannered
conducted, (4) low cost.
Resolution of environmental dispute by mediation approach is applied in Tapak case
Semarang. There are some agreements reached: (1) compensation, (2) impacts control, (3)
industrys social responsibility towards community, (4) reorganizing industries followed by
additional control requirements, (5) post agreement monitoring mechanism which involves
community and NGOs.
Considering results of agreement between parties in the dispute, it seems that there
are some matters must be reconsidered especially regarding with environment components.

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Hence, who has the right to be environments representative in that dispute? Some cases
indicate that local government are reluctant to see that environmental dispute is interfered by a
third party. Its attendance as facilitator of the weak party tends being considered as
disturbance of process to gain agreement.

ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTER

The description reflects that any environmental problems are not well addressed.
Some other problems are still remained. However, there is a tendency indicates that dialectic
phenomenon in dispute resolution will lead to a new problem in that ongoing process.
The resolution of the dispute will lead to new problems in that resolution process. An
environmental resolution tends to lead to the rise of problems accumulation: remained and
new problems. In the case of diesel fuel pollution of PT KAI in Jlagran and its around, for
example; the resolution reached by installing water installation for community will remain and
arise new problems. The remained problem such as content of diesel fuel in aquifer of ground
water, which potentially spread although source of the leak of diesel fuel has been stopped,
and also the hard smell of polluted well. The new problem is that community have to earn
money for their need of water. In the perspective of disaster management those problems are
potential to be source of disaster.
Disaster is a social phenomenon as collective result of hazard components, namely
natural phenomenon or maiden phenomenon in other side, and community vulnerability in
other side. Disaster occurs when community has a lower ability rather than the hazardous
level may be occurred to it. The hazard becomes disaster when community is vulnerable or
has a lower capacity than that dangerous level or even becomes one of the sources of the
hazard.
Intersocietal dispute or upper social level occurs directly or indirectly when there is
effort to grab the assets or disturbance process to access the above live assets. Assets
grabbing or disturbance process on access of live can be triggered by environmental
problems. Communitys or upper social levels activities which resulted the environment
problems will threat the other party when their live assets and their live access being
disturbed. Horizontal dispute, which is potentially arise from the environment problems is often
being neglected by local government but in the other hand is being used by the other party to
continue their activity which damage the environment. The cases of PT London Sumatera in
South Sulawesi and PT Inti Indorayon Utama in North Sumatera can be approached by
perspective of disaster management that the environment problems resulted conflicts.
Every individual, community or the bigger social levels develop the adjustment
capacity system to respond the hazard. Short time responds are called coping mechanism and
long time responds are called adaptive mechanism. The mechanism facing for the short time
change especially in order to access basic needs of live: safety, foods, and place than long
time purpose for strengthening livelihood.

APPLICATION OF DISASTER MANAGEMENT

In the perspective of disaster management, environmental dispute can be reduced

by total risk reduction. Basically, total risk reduction is the application of precautionary principle
at every level of disaster management. The disaster management is the activity involves every
aspect of planning and disaster prevention pre, present and post-disaster. Steps of disaster
prevention cycles must be applied completely.

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 The precautionary principle begins by monitoring every part of activities, which
potentially becomes the hazard to the existence of livelihood assets and human kind. Sooner
or later, the hazard will potentially become disaster which leads to human victims, lose of good
and chattel, and environmental damages. Any disaster occurs out of community adaptation
ability with their resources. Regarding with the condition, it is important to consider potential
risk which possibly appear such as a large number of suffer or lose out of possibility (of souls,
victims, damage and financial loss) which caused by a special danger in certain place and
time. The risk is usually measured mathematically as the probability of effect or consequences
of a danger. When potential risk in the arranged activity is bigger than the benefit,
precautionary principles are important. The effort to reduce imbedded vulnerability, i.e. a
group of conditions which leads and brings consequences (of physic, social, economic, and
behaviour) which has bad effect to the efforts of prohibition and prevention of disaster, such
as: woods logging, stone mining, and to burn forest.
The disaster prevention cycle is necessary done completely. Prevention effort of
rising effect is the first treatment. To prevent water flood, it is necessary to encourage society
effort of making diffusion well, and vice versa to prevent wood logging. In order to prevent
waste leak it is important to arrange save procedure and to control the obedience behaviour.
Although the prevention effort is done, but in other side the chance of the rising problem is still
exist so the mitigation effort is need to be applied, they are efforts to minimize the disaster
effect. There are two kinds of mitigations, i.e.; structural mitigation in the form of infrastructure
maiden, which minimizes impacts, and non-structural mitigation in the form of arrangement of
laws, city layout management and training.
Those efforts need preparedness i.e. execution of disaster anticipation actions through
organizing appropriate, effective and well-prepared programs. However, polluter tends to
ignore preparedness. PT KAI, PT IIU, and local community do not realize that it is important to
conduct preparedness in anticipating impacts of any pollution. For example, communication
equipments, commando post, and shelters as well. Furthermore, enhanced early warning
system is needed too. It provides marks to warn that a disaster might be happened in a soon
period by creating equipments codifying that chemical element in a river or well around the
heart of threat is about to rise. Criteria of early warning are (1) accessible, (2) immediate, (3)
coherent, and (4) officially released.
Finally, as disaster is about to come, responses i.e. immediate actions are executed to cope
with impacts of disaster and to reduce further impacts, especially rescuing victims, good and
chattel. In this case, relief, aids consist of primary needs, is required. They are: food, clothes,
shelters, health cares, sanitations and save water.
To avoid further threatening impacts, former infrastructures are reestablished. In spite of
establishing infrastructures such as roads, providing electricity and save water, market,
primary health care, etc, ecological functions are developed. In short-term, stages developed
are rehabilitation and reconstruction.
Rehabilitation is actions assisting community in building housing, general facilities and
significant social functions. Furthermore, it also includes developing community economy and
ecological functions. Reconstruction is medium and long-term actions to provide improvement
on physical, social, and economic areas. These actions are directed to bring back community
life into conditions which are similar (at least) or better than they are before.

ADDRESSING PROBLEMS

As the perspective is understandable and applicable, environmental problems will

never give rise. At least, primary problems are addressed that no potentials of conflict left.
However, obstacles in understanding and applying the perspective lied upon some significant
factors.

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 The main problem in environmental areas and its delayed actions of addressing lied
upon communitys lack of awareness on environmental problems. In fact, community do not
see environmental problems as problems which will result in impact endangers their life. Even
worse, the problem will be left for generations. Top down information conditions communitys
lack of awareness since they wait for obligation destined by governments. Also, they are lack
of knowledge and awareness on community rights since socialization and dissemination of
information on pollution is also scarce.
Governments and apparatus measures to manage, monitor and control pollution
considered low. They are reflected on the addressing of pollution problems. Moreover,
proactive measures by government and apparatus, such as police and tribunal are low as well.
They tend to stand up for capital owners. It results in their disobedience on pollution impacts
threatening community and environment.
Police as the guardian of law enforcement does not proactively address environmental crimes.
Investigation processes should have been conducted immediately as information of the
problems appears. They do not need to wait for victims complain since environmental
problems are not crimes by accusation. Moreover, lesser priority given to the problems results
in the longer time to address them.
Holistic address on environmental problems through both decreasing and abolishing
the impacts. Environmental workers need to take holistic and synergic managerial
transformation both structurally and by processes. Individuals, households, communities, and
higher level of social units, local or central governments need to transform behaviors, policies,
laws and institutions. It is also recommended to address environmental problems by reducing
any fragilities and insecure conditions, dynamic pressures and core problems.
Finally, there is a call for capacity, commitment of governments and community to
implement environmental management perspective in any policies and practices of resource
management. Indeed, the implementation is about to succeed, as community and government
comprehend the whole environmental problems. Suppose, we may address them in a
harmonious and synergic way. The governance of addressing root of problems and their
impacts is still a demand when there are problems, of course. Therefore, strategic efforts to
enhance ones capacity and to minimize impacts, developing reserves, resources product and
post-disaster adaptations are still needed as well. Having recognized them as communitys
needs and that they will be directly perceived, we placed it as primary needs since they are
the main subjects of environmental problem management. Moreover, community participatory
in planning, designing, conducting, monitoring and evaluating are a must.

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APPLICATION OF SPELEOLOGY AS ONE OF THE EFFORTS TO SOLVE WATER CRISIS
IN THE KARST AREA IN GUNUNG KIDUL
By Fredy Chandra

ABSTRACT

The region of southern mountains of Gunung Kidul is the karst region formed by units of
limestone. Hidrogeological system of karst region has the characteristics in which where
limestone is easy to dissolve and has many cracks so it has secondary porosities where
surface water flows through the cracks and then flows to reach the base flow and form
underground river or cave system. The people of Gunung Kidul in the beginning were able to
adapt themselves and lived for many centuries, even from the Stone Age (magalithicum
period) in the karst region. Example of the peoples adaptation in this region is establishing
civilization in locations with water resources for example lakes, springs, and caves with water
sources. There are many water sources in this region, but they found underground and form
underground river and cave system. The research by McDonald and his associate in 1982-
1984 is the proof that there is abundant water in the region but found underground or cave.
The speleological activity is one of the branches of science that studies caves and their
environment can give contributions in solving water crisis in the karts region of Gunung Kidul.
Survey and cave mapping to find the potency of underground water in karts region is one of
the applications of speleology. The use of caves as water sources in karts region of Gunung
Kidul has been applied as what is now carried out in Gua [Cave] Bribin and several other
caves that have water sources. Water sources have high strategic values so in their
exploitation has been regulated in the Presidential Decision year 2005, in chapter IV article 7
stating that a karts region would be classified as first class karts region if there are water
source and underground river flowing beneath it.
Key words: Gunung Kidul, karts, speleology, cave, hidrogeology

INTRODUCTION

Indonesian during the rainy season has abundant water and finally causes floods. On
the contrary, during the dry season the country suffer drought. In fact Indonesia is a tropical
country with high rainfall, > 25 mm per year. The southern mountains region of Gunung Kidul
in the Special Province of Yogyakarta, is a region in the island of Java which sometimes faces
water crisis during the dry season. Even, some regions face water crisis for the whole year.
Many factors cause the water crisis in the region of Gunung Kidul, but in this region geological
conditions have great effects on the existence of water.
The southern mountains region of Gunung Kidul has typical geological order which
is known with the term karts. A karts region is formed by limestone which is carbonated in
nature (contain CaC03) so they are easy to dissolve in rainwater that contains acid. It is called
karts region if limestone have undergone cartification process. Cartification is a series of
processes beginning from the elevation of limestone to the surface of the earth as a result of
the endogen process as well as the dissolving process in geological space and time until the
formation of karts soil.
The dissolving process of rain water in the surface produces typical ecsocars, i.e.
karren or lapies, conical hill, kars tower, negative topography between a group of doline, kars
lake, periodical rivers that end in the mouth of a sinkhole, ponour, surface rivers that disappear
in the mouth of shallow, blind valleys. Furthermore, the dissolving process develops under the
surface and produces endokars. Such a process produces complex paths with varied types
and sizes forming a case system or underground river system.

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 The characteristics of hidrogeologycal system of karts region are different from
those of non-karstik region. Limestone has secondary porosities where water passes through
the many cracks on the limestone. Their size varies from micro size to 1 meter. The large
number of cracks does not allow limestone to have constant surface water because the water
will soon disappear through the cracks and flows to the base flow. Such a flow accumulates
and form flow patterns just like what happens to surface rivers.
Meanwhile, dissolving process also happens on the cracks that finally form cave
conduits functioning as corridors to the underground river system. On the surface there is also
a lake that contains water during the rainy season. That lake can contain water because in the
bottom of the lake there is sediment of terra rossa that is impermeable in nature and is also
the result of the accumulation of limestone weathering. Sediment of the terra rossa closes the
cracks on the bedrock so the water coming in can accumulate and is prevented from passing
through. Those lakes are both permanent and periodical in nature. The water supply of karts
lakes depends only on supply of rainwater during the rainy season.
Due to the phenomenon of hidrogeological system in karts region above, when the
dry season comes, people living in karts regions can face the condition of surface water
shortage. On the worst level, where water supply is no longer sufficient for peoples minimum
needs, this situation may cause threatening droughts. The phenomenon of karts region is
experienced by the karts region of Gunung Kidul in the province of D.I. Yogyakarta. Therefore,
in order to know for sure the existence of water under soil surface it is necessary to conduct
cave tracing and mapping constitute part of applied spelelogy activities that can be conducted
in the karts region of Gunung Kidul in order to solve water crisis in the abovementioned region.

KARTS PEOPLE OF GUNUNG KIDUL AND WATER CRISIS

The karts region of Gunung Kidul has been occupied by people for the people for
many centuries, even from the Stone Age (megalithicum). The appearance of human
civilization developing in this region describes that people in this region have been able to
adapt themselves to the natural condition and the nature itself provides resources to be used.
One of the main resources is water. And so there is a question: Is it true that the karts region
of Gunung Kidul lacks water? And why did their ancestors choose to reside in the place which
is now infertile when the dry season comes. In fact, instinctively people will choose a
dwelling place that will support and fulfill their basic needs such as the availability of food,
drink, and secure protection place. In other words, basically the ancestors of the karts people
of Gunung Kidul were well informed that their region had resources potentials that would
support the process of life there, one of them is water availability to be used.
Basically, water sources are so abundant in this region but its existence is mostly
underground in the form of underground river. The water that flows on the surface is very little
and only develops in the northern region of the karts region of Gunung Kidul, but finally flows
to the southern part and enters the underground layer and forms the system of underground
river that is difficult to access. The farther it goes to the southern part of the karts region of
Gunung; it is more difficult to find surface rivers.
People who live in the region where there is no surface river mostly make use of
lake water and springs coming out from rock cracks. People also go to caves to find water
sources; some people even prepare bamboo ladders alat helping tools to go down to vertical
caves only to get water when the dry season comes. The adaptation of people living in the
karts region reflects the dwelling patterns that usually develop around water sources such as
lakes and springs. Even, some settlements develop near caves with water, both as static pool
and system of small rivers that flow.

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Picture 1. The activity of people in the
karts region of Gunung Kidul who make
use of water sources in caves for
drinking, washing, and bathing. Photo :
ASC

Development that touches the karts region of Gunung Kidul opens the access of
roads that is more accessible by cars. Finally emerges another pattern of the people that is
buying water from trucks that supply water with the price ranging from 89.000 to 120.000/5000
liter for one-time delivery. The price varies, depending on how far is the region to be supplied.
Meanwhile, not all people can by that expensive water. Almost every house in the karts
region of Gunung Kidul has reservoirs. The difference is those who are economically capable
of filling their reservoirs with water they buy, while those who are not capable fill their
reservoirs with water that their get from water sources or from rain water. The water must be
used economically in order that the water would be enough for daily needs and for animals.

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SPELEOLOGY

Speleology derives from the Greek words spelean (cave) and logos (science).
Speleology is the science studying the characteristics of caves and the surroundings, both
from the biological and physical aspects. Countries such as France and Germany have
th
conducted cave exploration activities before the 19 century, but not until the middle of the
century that the caves explored become objects of intensive research. Later emerged the term
speleology. Along with the development of science and time, speleology itself became a
branch of science that develops rapidly especially in America and Europe.
Caves as objects of this science continue to be explored and studied as unique and
phenomenal natural laboratories that have close relationship with various sciences such as
hydrogeology, geology, biology, archeology, geography, environment, anthropology, and other
sciences. In Indonesia alone, speleology develops in the beginning of 1980s. Presently it
develops more and more, considering that almost every region in the archipelago country of
Indonesia has the spread of vast karts regions as the formation of caves with their potentials.
Speleology itself has actually been applied in the region of Gunung Kidul since
1980s until present. The activity carried out has been in the form of listing the potential of
underground rivers and mapping them by exploring caves as their corridors. One of the
strategic aspects of speleology applied in the karts region of Gunung Kidul is the issue of
water existence (its hydrogeology).
According to common
knowledge, the hidrogeological
system of a karts region is much
found in cave system that forms the
system of underground river. In
order to know and prove as well as
collect data about whether or not
there is potential of underground
water; the most effective way is to
explore the caves by using special
caving techniques.
Caving is a key activity of
the application of speleology itself.
This activity is the initial phase in
the tracing of the existence of
underground rivers. The data
collected could vary according to
the needs and follow up in making
use and treating them.

Picture 2. Water that comes out from the bedding of limestone formation
in the cave. In order to reach the main system of the underground rivers
flow a cave exploration phase has been conducted by by cavers.
Foto (kiri : ASC, Kanan : Fredy Chandra)

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PHASE OF CAVE SURVEY TO TRACE WATER POTENTIAL

The initial phase in the tracing of underground river system is surface survey. The
surface survey is conducted to know the spreading of cave mouth and the morphological
condition as well as the size of the water catch area. After that the mapping of the cave mouth
spreading is made in order to be used as reference to begin cave exploration by using studies
on the possibilities of water flowing into the region to be traced. The spreading map can be
overlaid with other supporting maps such as maps of topography, geological structure, and
hydrogeology. Based on the result of overlaying a cave plan of which cave to be explored first
is made. This activity is carried out to predict the possibility of a main system in the caving site.
The early prediction is not adequate to confirm the existence of underground river
because however it is merely a prediction, while limestone themselves have cracks and
complex net of cave system. Therefore it is necessary to conduct cave mapping. The mapping
is conducted on the formation and developing system of cave path. If any underground system
is found, the main thing to do is measuring the discharge of water. The final result of cave
exploration and mapping is a cave map with various grades according to the accuracy and
measurement deviation made by using measuring tools.
When the cave
map is finished further
analysis can be made. If it
is potential and has the
possibility to be
developed, it is necessary
to perform more serious
studies and surveys both
technical and non-
technical. Technical
studies include water
quantity, quality, and
reliability. And such
studies are followed up by
geological mapping in the
form of geological and
geomorphologic
structures. The study of
environmental aspects is Picture 2. The measuring of water discharge made to underground river found in
also necessary to a cave in the krats region of Gunung Kidul. (foto AB.Rodhialfalah. ASC)
maintain the balance of
the ecosystem and the
continuity of water supply
and the maintenance of
cave ecosystem.

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 Picture 1. Cutaway diagram block of G. Seropan, is the result of a survey from cave exploration.
(Source : Erlangga Esa Lakmana, 2005)

Non-technical study and survey includes social analyses on the neighboring

community such as daily need of water, agriculture, animal husbandry, and community
economy and community life patterns. The two studies above are necessary as basic
reference materials for technical development management for water lifting and its distribution,
supporting power, and the function of underground river that can of course be totally by people
residing in the karts region.

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 Picture 2. Map of Gua Gremeng systems plan section is an underground river that has direct contact with
shallow hole. (Source :Erlangga Esa Lakmana, ASC, 2005)

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THE EXISTENCE OF UNDERGROUND WATER IN THE KARTS REGION OF GUNUNG
KIDUL

The outcomes of the research conducted by Mc. Donald and his associate in the
years 1982 -1984 describes that the existence of water in the karts region of Gunung Kidul is
mostly found underground and forms cave system and underground river. Surface rivers
(shallow holes) that flow the hole year are River Suci, River Tegon and River Serpeng. These
rivers flow from North to South, and flow as long as several kilometers on the surface and
finally disappear under the soil surface forming a very large system that flows along the karts
area of Gunung Kidul and ends in the Southern coast as resurgence.
One example of large resurgence is Baron with the discharge of 5800-8200
liter/second. Baron resurgence is the hidrogeological system located in the center of the
Wonosari karts where that large amount of water discharge is the increasing of water coming
in and most of it underground has not been taken data. River Sucis water catch area is 38
2 2 2
km , River Tegoan 47 Km and River Serpeng 13 Km only contribute 5 % of the discharge of
water coming out from the Baron resurgence. It means that there are still many subsystems of
underground river supplying to the resurgence. Besides the Baron resurgence, there are other
resurgences such as the resurgences of Ngobaran (180220 l/second, Sundak (200 l/second)
and some smaller resurgences that empty into the Southern coast, among them Gua Bekah in
the Subdistrict of Panggang and Ngerenean bay (100 l/second).
Based on the result of cave mouth survey on the surface around the karts region of
Gunung Kidul, there are reportedly more than 300 plots of cave mouths that have not been
explored. Those cave mouths are passages and paths of water during the rainy season; most
of them are sink holes. The passing of water into the cave mouth indicates that the water will
continue to fill saturation zone and reach the base flow, forming the system of underground
river. One example of the underground rivers with large water discharge is Gua Bribin with the
discharge of 1450 l/second during the dry season in the subdistrict of Semanu. There is also
Gua Seropan in the district of Semanu with the water discharge of 600 l/second (at the time of
measurement).

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 LOCALITY DISCHARGE METHOD
SURFACE RIVERS (l/second)
1. River Prambutan outer source 140 c
Underground river 390 c

2. River Oyo on level land 1400 c

On the Northern side of the level
land 540 c
Headwaters 72 c
PENETRATING RIVERS
3. River Tegoan 260 c
4. River Suci 160-500
5. River Serpeng 4
EMERGING RIVERS
PONJONG REGION
1. Teleng 42 c
2. Beton 45 e
3. Gedaran 34 c
4. Sulu 13 c
5. Ngreneng 16 c
6. Ponjong 34 c
PRACIMANTORO
1. Pracimantoro 33 c
2. Beton 40 w
3. Sambiroto 19
COASTAL AREA
1. Baron 8200 -5800 c
2. Ngobaran 210 180 c
3. Slili 50 e
4. Sundak 200 e
5. Teluk Ngerenean 200-500 e
6. Piyuyon 100 200 e
WONOSARI PLATEAU
1. Emerging river in Suci Valley 10 c
2. Umbul dengak 0.01 0.8 Vb
IN-CAVE RIVER
1. L. Buhputih 25 f
2. L. Seropan 170 f
3. Cave Toto 260 f
4. Cave Greneng surface river 75 c
5. River Suci in Cave Buriomah 390 c
6. River Suci in L. Grubug 680 c
7. River Bribin 1500 c
8. Cave Gilap 3 c
9. Cave Jomlang 2 V

Table 1. Table of water discharge measuring in the karts region of Gunung Kidul, the central part that was measured in
the dry season of (August) 1982. The explanation of method of water discharge measurement ; c = current metter ; e =
visual estimate ; f = floating ; v = volumetric ; W = weir ; b = from balazs. (Source: MacDonald & patners, 1984)

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THE USE OF CAVES AS WATER SOURCES

The use of caves as water sources in the karts region of Gunung Kidul has been
done with reference to the outcomes of underground and cave mapping conducted by Mc.
Donald and his associate (1982). Based on the reference, Cave Bribin and Cave Seropan in
the district of Semanu have been developed. The abovementioned use of water has been
done by using pumping system
to main reservoirs and the
distribution is made by using
gravity power to resettlement
reservoirs.
The use of water of
Cave Bribin is as much as 400
l/second. The water is pumped
for six hours and is estimated to
fulfill the need of 400.000 people,
however it cannot go smoothly
because the operational cost is
too high and the water
distributed cannot reach distant
places. The real example is
found in the subdistrict of
Panggang (western part) where
there are pipes of water
distribution but there is no water.
In the subdistrict of Rongkop
(eastern part) there are also
pipes empty all they long
because the water pumped and
channeled cannot reach isolated
locations. The subdistrict of
(southeastern part) also faces
the same problem and only once
in a while water manages to
reach the settlement.
In the beginning of
2000 up to the present the
Indonesian Government has
been collaborating with
researchers from the University
of Karshlue, from Germany, in the Pircutre 3. Top : Dam in underground river of Cave Bribin, water discharge
development of microhidro reaches 1500 l/second. This cave is an example of using a cave as water
source in the karts region of Gunung Kidul. (photo : ASC)
system in Gua [Cave] Bribin. The bottom : Site of drilling on the surface that connects with the path to the
purpose of the collaboration is to inside of Cave Bribin in which will be build microhidro technology for lifting
optimize the lifting of water to the water in Cave Bribin, until now the construction is in progress. (photo : ASC)
surface by using water kinetik
power which is converted to
mechanic power in order to move
the pump turbine that functions to
lift water to the upper part of land
surface.

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 Beside this, there is underground water potential which is more sectional in nature,
for example in Cave Plawan in the small village of Gabug, Giricahyo, the subdistrict of
Panggang with the potency of 24 l/second during the pick of dry season. The water in the cave
is pumped by using submersible system with diesel power for two hours and can lift 4 l/second
water discharge that is put in the main reservoir and then distributed by using gravity system
to peoples reservoirs. The water in Cave Plawan is enough to be supplied to three small
villages, i.e. Gabug, Wuni, and Karang Tengah with 30.000 people.

KARTS REGION CONSERVATION

The impact of water crisis in the region of Gunung Kidul began to happen in the
course of time, the increasing number of population affects the number of water needs.
According to the story of some people aged above 50 years old, denudation of primary forest
took place in this region in around 50 years ago. The forest denudation has changed the
natural system in the region and has finally affected the amount and resistance of water during
the dry season. The existence of vegetation in the region is very important because when the
rainy season comes the plants function to catch water, and when the dry season comes water
is still kept. Now due the denudation when the rainy season comes the water flows directly in
the land surface as surface run off and goes into sinkhole. Then the flowing water disappears
at once and leaves the valleys dry, while there is no water supply during the dry season.
The dredging of karts lakes which would be made permanent in fact can destroy the
taking-in system because the clay that settles in the bottom of the lake finally disappears
during the dredging. As a result, the water will flow straight to the cracks of bedrocks of the
lake because there is no the bottom of the lake is no longer prevented by the clay that
functions to keep water to certain extant of saturation. Global warming which is much talked
about recently also affects the climate in Indonesia. The very short period of rainy season
results in lack of water supply in the region, while the dry seasons remains longer. The
formation of much exploited limestone hills can also reduce water supply. Limestone hills
function to keep water. So if destroyed, the absorption acreage of water going in will be
lessened.
The use and development of underground water can be one the solutions to water
crisis in karts region, however such an effort is not closely related to the conservation to
maintain its continuity. And this has been decided in the decision of the Minister of Energy and
Mineral Resources (ESDM) No.1456 K/20/MEM/2000 on the Guidelines of Karts Region
Management. Then in article 11 it is stated that karts region becomes first, second, and third
class karts. If there is water source and underground river that flows beneath it, a karts region
will be classified as first class. And when a region has been classified as first class, every form
of mining in the surface and activities that destroy the system of underground river must be
stopped. The aforementioned regulation based on cave exploration that has produced data in
the form of cave maps with various potentials becomes one of the references in classifying
karts regions with the result that a karts region can be managed well in accordance with the
conservation guidelines of karts region and the water source it contain.

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CONCLUSION

Speleology is one of the sciences that can be applied in solving the problem of
water crisis in a karts region. Like a room, we will not know for sure what is inside if we do not
open the door and get in. It happens to the hydrological systems of karts regions, we cannot
tell exactly the existence of water in the limestone if we do not enter any cave and survey its
potentials. Cave maps and underground river system produced from cave explorations and
systems can be used as references in managing water in a karts region. Those references
also require multidisciplinary analysis so that they will cover all important aspects that
integrate into one another in the use of water resources in karts region. Finally, all people
living in karts regions are always involved in the management and use of water resources.

REFERENCES

Acintyacunyata Speleological Club, 1989, Gua, Air dan Permasalahannya, ASC, D.I.
Yogyakarta.
Acintyacunyata Speleological Club, 1995, Acintyacunyata Speleological Club News, Edisi
Khusus Lima Puluh Tahun Indonesia Merdeka, ASC, D.I. Yogyakarta.
Acintyacunyata Speleological Club, 2004, Database penyebaran mulut gua Kabupaten
Gunung Kidul, Propinsi D.I.Yogyakarta, ASC, D.I. Yogyakarta.
Acintyacunyata Speleological Club, 2005, Buku Pendidikan dan Pelatihan Speleology Dasar,
ASC, Yogyakarta.
Bougli, A., 1980, Karst Hidrology and physical Speleology, Springer Verlag, Berlin
Heidelberg, New York.
Erlangga, E.L., 2005, Stasiun Nol, Teknik-teknik pemetaan dan survey hidrologi gua,
Megalithbook, Acintyacunyata Speleological Club, D.I. Yogyakarta.
MacDonald, M., and Patners, 1984, Greater Yogyakarta Groundwater Resources Study,
Volume 3 C Cave Survey, Government of the replubic of Indonesia, Ministry of
Public Works, Directorate General of Water Resources Development, Groundwater
Development Project, Unpublished, Yogyakarta.
Moore, G.W., and Nicholas, G.,1978, Speleology, The Study of caves, Zephyrus Press. Inc.,
USA.
Poulson, T.L., and White, W.B., 1969, The Cave Environment, Science Volume 165.
Samodra, H., 2005, Monografi Kars Gunung Sewu, Pusat Penelitian dan Pengembangan
Geologi, Bandung, Indonesia.
Uhlig, H., 1980, Man and Tropical Karst in Southeast Asia, Geo-ecological differentiation,
Land use and Rural Development Potential in Indonesia and Other Regions, Geo-
Jurnal, Wiesbaden, Germany.

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