Water in Wonorejo Reservoir Drops to Lowest Level

Tulungagung, E Java - The water surface in the Wonorejo reservoir, Tulungagung, East Java, is reported to have dropped to its lowest level at 153 meters above sea level, an official said here Saturday. According to a spokesperson of local water supply company Jasa Tirta, Taufiqurrahman, the water level had been declining continuously over the past few weeks. "Four days ago, the water level was recorded at 157 meters above sea level, but the mark is now down to 155 meters above sea level," said Taufiqurrahman. Taufiqurrahman said the water level decrease was actually a normal phenomenon as the reservoir had been doing its job of watering local plantations during the dry season. Although the reservoir's water level had dropped to almost its lowest mark, Jasa Tirta said water supply to the public was still guaranteed. Taufiqurrahman also said water supply to the public was still adequate for the purpose of irrigation and to drive hydroelectric turbines in the Niama dam in Besuki district over the next three months. "Water supply will still be safe even if the dry season will last for three more months because the reservoir is still holding up to more than 44 million cubic meters of water," he said. Although he was optimistic about the availability of water from the reservoir, Taufiqurrahman said the company had adopted a reservoir water use intensification policy. Through the intensification policy, water distribution from the reservoir to agricultural irrigation systems in e Tulungagung District was temporarily tightened in adjustment to the determined water volume needs and priorities. "Besides the multipurpose function of this reservoir, intensification policy intended the water management and utilization can be done efficiently and effectively, to meet the agricultural irrigation as well as hydropower needs up to three months ahead," said Taufiqurrahman.