The study of river management on Batang Arau and Kuranji Rivers in Padang, West Sumatra, Indonesia

Batang Arau River and Kuranji in Padang, Indonesia serve as an important source of fresh water supply for the local communities to carry out their daily activities. Agricultural activities depend on the river water as the main source for crop irrigation in Padang. However, due to the rapid industrialization and along Batang Arau River has caused intense pollution to the river. There is a need to study on the human activities and the current management of Batang Arau and Kuranji rivers in Padang. Therefore, afield survey was conducted to identify the type of river usage by the local communities, the sources of pollution and to understand the currnt management of these rivers by the local authorities. The result showed that apart from industrial waste, improper disposal practiced of domestic waste and sewage by the local communities were the main causes of the river pollution. Batang Arau River was intensely polluted by many sources of pollution and has lower river water quality compared to the Kuranji River. Environmental Impact Management Agency (Badan Pengendalian Dampak Lingkungan Daerah,BAPEDALDA) and Department of Water Resources Management (Dinas Pengelolaan Sumber Daya Air,PSDA) of West Sumatera Province is responsible for the monitoring and the management of the rivers. Although laws and regulations to protect the rivers had been enforced by the lacal authorities, constant efforts in increasing the awareness of the local community on the importance of river conservation are necessary to ensure the sustainability of the river ecosystem health and the ecological services provided by the river.