BALI WATER CRISIS – NO WATER! NO BALI!
by Akshay Parashar |Indian Intern| August 14, 2017 11:15 am
© http://beautyfulbali.blogspot.co.id
Bali, the famed Secret gateway to Heaven, with its diverse scenery of hills and mountains, rugged coastlines and sandy beaches, blossoming rice terraces and barren volcanic hillsides. Every bit of Island set a pleasing backdrop to its vibrant culture, stakes a serious claim to be heaven on earth.
The archipelago has drawn visitors from all over the map, with millions flying every year. Bali is mainly reliant on tourism Industry for its progress. Tourism industry accounts for 60% of Bali’s economy and has helped it to nurture economically and socially. The Island is relatively tiny, but it is densely inhabited (4.85Million.BPS 2017), likely to increase due to the growing employment prospects. But not all is perfect in Heaven.
Sadly, tourism the backbone of its economy is ruining its ecological and social arrangement. Bali’s increasing population and over development has led to a severe water crisis. Tourism is a major contributor to this looming crisis, for the reason that the essential element of life “water” resources that the island can provide are simply not meeting the rapidly mounting demand.
The Tourism sector on which this island relies on also stands to collapse if this manufactured disaster is not confronted.
Water is life! Bali is Heaven!
© www.idepfoundation.org/en/
Why this tropical Island even with a green season spanning semi annually is facing such water crisis?
Bali water scarcity concern is due to range of aspects. Bali is losing its valuable tropical rain forests on alarming stage causing massive environmental and social impacts. Ever mounting deforestation and concretisation of forests land for tourism and vacation homes means that Island water natural catchment structure is weakening.
Bali is now encountering a failing water table causing groundwater levels to run down as water courses straight out to ocean. The existing water table are being exploited to indefensible levels, due to tourism infrastructures digging wells ever deeper. The paradise is in danger, with ever decreasing river and lake water, and gradually land caving in, to add to the declining water quality.
According to Kintamani residents, “Lake Batur, a major fresh water catchment which is regarded as the crucial source of all spring and river is dropped to unsustainable levels. The environmental, social impacts are questioning the survival”.
Is Bali Water crisis turning from Bad to worse?
Bali water crisis map © http://nowbali.co.id
Water is extremely essential part of life. Water is finite resource. However, inappropriate supply and excessive use of water leads to water scarcity. This is what concerning Bali inhabitants.
Water resources in Bali not even capable enough to support a population of 4.85million, with growing population this situation is getting worse. This is alarming stage seeing that how Bali will bear the tourist influx of 10 million annually flying here.
As the number the tourists increase, water scarcity is becoming ever-increasing crisis. As of 2017, Tourism utilizes two-thirds of Bali’s fresh water. As the tourism industry relies heavily on the availability of fresh water, water is often ‘taken’ from the locals and diverted to tourism related uses.
Utilization vs Exploitation © www.sawahBali.org
Balinese farmer leader Mr. Pak anggir, describes water crisis as “There is acute shortage of water, tourism industry don’t use water they exploit it. While natives of this Island are facing water crisis, tourists have the benefit of access to clean water. We understand that tourism is essential for our economy, but why they take no notice of our environment? Lack of water is dominating our lives. I cannot sleep because of worrying about water for my rice field .On the other hand tourism sector exploits water in completely worthless activities. Diverting water for golf courses, swimming pools, there are endless instances they have exploited this precious source. For us water is amrut (holy water) and we want a sustainable future of this sacred land.”
The Tourism industry draws significant amount of water averaging roughly 3-5 million of litres per day. As data show (above) that a native Balinese use approx 120-150 Litres per day, while a tourist in Bali exploits nearly 2500 litres per day . This unequal distribution and misuse of water is leading this crisis from bad to worse.
How to overcome this water crisis?
Water is life. Respect this valuable God gift. © www.Balijungle.com
Unfortunately, the damage has been done on indefensible level. This water crisis can be tackled by working with nature rather than against it. Due to the outsized players leading this crisis, its need of the hour that all the stakeholders join together and assure sustainability of water. The insignificant activities and exploitation have to end.
Sadly, Tourists – the major drivers of this industry are not well aware about this water crisis, raising awareness among players of this industry will benefit to a great extent, it will influence the strength of the tourism industry to encourage and generate corporate social responsibility programme that tourists and inhabitants can enthusiastically support.A sense of belonging should not only limit to natives, visitors must also take care of Bali as their home.
The technical solution can be using rain water filtration system and rain water harvesting system that will definitely help to access clean water to urban and rural areas. Sometime the solution just fallout from the sky especially in tropical places like Bali where rain water are so abundance in 1 millilitre of rain at 1 m2 of space equal 1 litre per second so if you have 100 m2 roof that will collect 100 litres of rain water per second or 360,000 litres of rain water in an hour. Sustainability is way of life that should be adopted for betterment of environment and society.
The purpose of this article is to educate society about the threats and severe blows Bali is facing. The awareness about water crisis is essential to tackle this disaster. Alarm bells are starting to sound in Bali, so now it’s time to act for sustainable Bali. Our actions will Support Bali in retaining No.1 Spot as World best tourism destination.
The author is a researcher at the Symbiosis School of International Studies, Pune,India.
[Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author based on the Understanding and communication with people and do not necessarily reflect the position of the Tri Hita Karana Bali]