The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Speaks About New Regulations Regarding the Necessity for People to Apply for Permits to Use Groundwater from Wells or Excavations

This new regulation is stipulated in the Minister of ESDM Decision No. 291.K/GL.01/MEM.G/2023, which governs the Standards for the Administration of Groundwater Usage Approvals. The rules apply to governmental agencies, legal entities, social institutions, and the general public, requiring them to obtain permits for using groundwater from wells or excavations.

Muhammad Wafid, the Acting Head of the Geological Agency of the Ministry of ESDM, explained that these rules are not intended to restrict the use of groundwater by the public but rather to manage groundwater basins, especially aquifers or underground layers that contain and flow water.

According to him, Law No. 17 of 2019 states that the use of groundwater for daily needs and smallholder farming generally does not require approval for groundwater usage. However, if groundwater extraction for daily needs exceeds 100 cubic meters per month, approval for groundwater usage is required.

These rules also specify that requests for approval of groundwater usage should be submitted for activities that require at least 100 cubic meters per month per household for daily needs or more for group groundwater usage. Approval is also required for water-based tourism or sports activities managed for public interest or non-business purposes, the use of groundwater for research purposes, fee-free city parks, places of worship, public facilities, boreholes provided by the government, private entities, or individuals, and the use of groundwater by government institutions.

Wafid emphasized that groundwater management is a crucial step in maintaining the sustainability of underground water resources. Effective management is required to ensure an adequate supply of groundwater for various needs, including human consumption, agriculture, industry, and the preservation of the environment.

He pointed out that although groundwater is considered a renewable natural resource, disturbances to this resource require significant time for recovery and conservation efforts. Groundwater can also be viewed as a non-renewable resource when focusing on social aspects and groundwater sustainability. Therefore, the government needs to regulate its use to avoid adverse impacts from excessive water extraction.