Citarum River Shrinks in Drought, Revealing Trash and Sediment

The Citarum River in West Java, Indonesia, is experiencing a severe water level drop, exposing vast stretches of mud and accumulated trash. This dramatic change, attributed to a prolonged drought exacerbated by El Nino, has transformed sections of the riverbed into what appears to be dry land.

Local resident Restu Nugraha noted the water has been receding for about a month, a condition he described as unprecedented and significantly worse than previous dry seasons. He estimates the river's depth has decreased by 2 to 3 meters.

The diminished water flow directly impacts the water supply to the Saguling hydropower plant, a crucial source for the Java-Bali power system. While the incoming water volume has fallen from a peak of 155-200 cubic meters per second during the rainy season to just 10-18 cubic meters per second in August, the plant's operations remain unaffected. The reservoir's water level is currently at 638 meters above sea level, well within the normal operating range of 636 to 640 meters.