KAJIAN PEMENUHAN KEBUTUHAN AIR MINUM UNTUK MASYARAKAT DI KAWASAN SEMI-ARID INDONESIA (A Study on Fulfillment of Drinking Water Need of People in Semi-Arid Areas in Indonesia)

Indonesio. ABSTRAKKawasan Kota Kupang dan sekitarnya saat ini berkembang menjadi pusat perekonomian, pendidikan dan sosial budaya di NTT, dengan laju permintaan kebutuhan air minum yang tinggi. Tantangan penyediaan air minum semakin besar, karena daerah tersebut merupakan kawasan semi-arid di Indonesia yang memiliki keterbatasan ketersediaan dan kontinuitas air dari berbagai sumber air yang ada. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisa pemenuhan kebutuhan air minum bagi masyarakat di kawasan semi-arid Indonesia, khususnya Regional Kupang, tahun 2015-2035. Penelitian dibagi atas tiga tahap, yakni tahap pertama mengkaji proyeksi laju permintaan air minum tahun 2015-2035, tahap kedua melakukan identifikasi potensi sumber air tersedia, dan tahap ketiga mengatur skenario pemenuhan kebutuhan air minum. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa, potensi sumber air yang ada, sulit untuk memenuhi kebutuhan air minum pada rentang waktu perencanaan 2015-2035, khususnya mulai tahun 2019 dengan target pencapaian pelayanan air minum harus mencapai 100%. Untuk mengatasi hal ini maka, paradigma pengelolaan sumber daya air untuk keperluan multisektor perlu disesuaikan menurut kekhasan kawasan semi-arid, dengan prioritas utama untuk kebutuhan air minum. Potensi curah hujan yang terjadi perlu dioptimalkan pemanfaatannya sebagai sumber air baku, melalui pembangunan waduk, sarana penampungan air hujan lainnya dan disertai upaya konservasi. Penghematan penggunaan air sesuai kebutuhan dan kearifan lokal daerah, serta pengaturan prioritas daerah pelayanan untuk sistem perpipaan air minum, merupakan strategi lainnya yang bisa dilakukan. Penggunaan air tanah yang merupakan sumber air baku utama, harus dikendalikan dengan mempertimbangkan daya dukung lingkungan.ABSTRACTKupang and its surrounding region are currently developing into a center of economy, education and socio-culture in the NTT province, with a high rate of demand for drinking water. The challenge to provide drinking water supply has become greater and greater due to the fact that the area belongs to the semi-arid Indonesian region with limited water availability and continuity of the existing water sources. This study aims to analyze the fulfillment of the need for drinking water of the people in the semi-arid region of Indonesia, particularly in the city of Kupang and its surrounding, for the years of 2015-2035. The research was divided into three stages, i.e. the first stage, which examines the projected rate of the demand for the drinking water in 2015-2035, the second stage, which identifies potential sources of available water, and the third stage, which sets the scenario for providing drinking water supply. The results showed that it was difficult for the existing water sources to fulfill the need for the drinking water in the planned period of 2015-2035, especially starting from 2019, with the target of achieving 100% drinking water services. To overcome the above-mentioned problem, it is deemed necessary to adjust the paradigm of the water resource management for the purpose of fulfilling the multi-sector needs according to the peculiarities of the semi-arid region, with drinking water needs as the main priority. The utilization of the potential rainfall needs to be optimized as a source of raw water through the construction of both dams and other means of rainwater harvesting, and conservation. Efficient use of water as required and local wisdom of the region, as well as setting priorities for the service area of drinking water piping systems, are other impending strategies. The use of ground water as the main source of raw water in the study area should be controlled by taking into consideration the environmental supporting capacity.