16 April 2025
Kawasi Spring plays a vital role in meeting the clean water needs of local residents. It is located in one of the small valleys, precisely on the lower slope of the smelter building owned by Harita Nickel at the Obi Island Site. Despite being in the middle of industrial operations, Kawasi spring is still flowing and maintaining its quality.
To ensure the spring is safe as a source of raw water, Harita Nickel conducts periodic monitoring of a number of indicators such as pH levels, water temperature, turbidity to oxygen levels in water. As a result, all of these indicators meet quality standards.
Based on the latest results of testing water samples conducted by an independent laboratory, it was found that the pH is within safe limits (7.87), very low levels of Chromium Hexavalent (Cr-VI) (<0.005 mg/l), and adequate oxygen content.
Dean of the Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences at Khairun University, M Janib Achmad, explained that the test results showed that the water quality sampled at Kawasi spring was suitable for drinking. “The pH of drinking water must be above 7, if it is more than that it is even better, if it is high acid then algae grows,” he said.
Meanwhile, according to him, if the Hexavalent Chromium (Cr-VI) is still low, it is very safe. Usually this Cr level is related to the soil layer because almost every soil contains chrome, if it exceeds the limit it is dangerous. “This spring water is still suitable for drinking, the community uses it in Kawasi, but indeed the community often complains that there was sediment that covered the spring water,” he said.
One resident of Kawasi Village, Yolius Langkodi, confirmed that the Kawasi spring is still used by residents as a source of raw water. Regarding the news stating that residents have to spend money to buy refill water for drinking, according to him, only a small portion is for gallon water needs.
"Refillable water does exist, but the need is limited to dispensers only. For larger needs, such as cooking and drinking, we all take water from Kawasi spring," he said.
Yolius explained that Kawasi spring has been around for a long time. In the past, people called it babunyi water, because its sound was heard all the way to the settlement. Since there is a company, he continued, water from Kawasaki spring is channeled through pipes that are connected to residents' homes.
"Now we are comfortable with clean water. All residents take water from Kawasi spring. This is also thanks to the company's efforts," he said, while advising Harita Nickel to continue to maintain Kawasi spring so that it can be utilized by residents.
Meanwhile, Harita Nickel's Health & Safety Environment Director, Tonny Gultom, said the company is committed to carrying out responsible integrated mining operations by addressing environmental and social aspects. This includes ensuring sustainability of the Kawasi spring which is currently used by residents for raw water sources and also other springs that are used for the company's operations, namely Lake Karo and Lake Loji.
“To maintain several vital water sources, the company carries out reclamation to rehabilitate post-mining land, plant trees along the watershed, conduct regular water quality monitoring and manage mine runoff water so that the released water does not pollute the environment,” he explained.
Watch Kawasi resident Yolius Langkodi share how the village spring brings clean, clear water straight to their homes in this video.
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