Industrial Waste and Domestic Sewage Pollute Rivers in Indonesia

The pollution crisis along the Ciliwung River in Jakarta, Indonesia, is worsening. Numerous factories along the riverbanks have long been illegally dumping industrial waste containing heavy metals, while nearby residents continue to discharge untreated domestic sewage directly into the river. Monitoring data shows that the river’s heavy metal and microbial levels far exceed safety standards: mercury levels are 12 times the limit, lead levels are 8 times the limit, and E. coli levels are a staggering 200 times the limit. The water has remained black for an extended period and emits a pungent, foul odor. The severe pollution has seeped into the groundwater along the riverbanks, directly threatening the drinking water safety of millions of residents.