Implementing proper governance is crucial for protecting water sources around mining areas. The conservation of a spring in Kawasi Village, Obi District, South Halmahera Regency, North Maluku, can serve as a reference.
The 133 sq km Kawasi Village is located on Obi Island, about 134km from Labuha, the capital of South Halmahera. The only access to Obi is via a four-hour speedboat journey. Commercial flights from Ternate, the capital of North Maluku, only reach as far as Labuha.
This area sits adjacent to the operational centre of PT Trimegah Bangun Persada Tbk (Harita Nickel), a nickel ore mining and refining company. Based on its mining business permit, Harita’s operations in Kawasi Village span 4,247ha.
With a population of 1,281 people (2023 data by Statistics Indonesia), the demand for clean water in the village is significant. At the same time, the nickel mining industry also requires substantial amounts of water.
Is it possible to protect water sources within a mining area? “Maintaining water sources can certainly be achieved. It depends on how humans treat nature,” said Tri Edhi Budhi Soesilo, a lecturer at the University of Indonesia’s School of Environmental Science.
In principle, he explained, water management in any industry is always based on a “water balance”, the equilibrium between required and available water. Water availability depends on rivers, lakes, rainfall, springs and nature’s ability to retain water through natural vegetation cover.
Water needs in a mining context include upstream and downstream operations as well as the domestic needs of the local community. According to Budhi, these various demands must not exceed the available supply.
“It may be that recharge (water availability) is actually sufficient, but due to human activities that damage the environment around water sources, the water supply declines,” Budhi explained.
In Kawasi, Budhi observed that the water source remains preserved. Hydrogeologically, the Kawasi spring originates from a shallow underground layer (aquifer), which is located in the forest and highland areas of eastern Obi Island.
Water tests
During a field observation in Obi in June 2025, Budhi witnessed the company’s efforts to preserve the Kawasi spring, including protecting the catchment area, building distribution pipes to residents and getting the local community involved.
Although the Kawasi spring is not located within the Harita Nickel site, periodic testing of water samples is still conducted to ensure the community’s raw water source remains uncontaminated. Testing is reportedly conducted by independent laboratories.
Results released in April 2025 showed several indicators meeting quality standards. For example, the pH level was within a safe limit, while hexavalent chromium levels were very low. Oxygen content was also within acceptable limits.
Furthermore, the Kawasi spring’s flow path does not intersect with the sedimentation management system, ensuring the community’s water source is protected from mining operations.
The spring is utilised solely by residents, not for mining operations. The company uses surface water from Lake Karo for its operations instead.
Covering nearly 10,000ha, the lake serves as the main water reservoir, especially during rainfall. Its discharge reaches about 70,000 cubic metres per day, or 2.1 million cubic metres per month, exceeding the industry’s monthly needs of around 2 million cubic metres.
Harita’s water withdrawal from the lake remains relatively low in its total water use. In Harita’s sustainability report, surface water withdrawal for domestic use and nickel processing in 2024 was recorded at 41,169 megalitres (ML), representing only 5% of its total water withdrawal of 867,835 ML.
Most operational water comes from the sea. This approach reduces pressure on freshwater resources needed by communities. Additionally, water reuse and recycling in mining operations reached 10 million cubic metres in 2024.
However, Budhi noted that this must be balanced with precise water quality management, as the lake is prone to eutrophication (declining water quality). Therefore, regular monitoring is necessary.
His observations showed that lake quality testing has been conducted using parameters such as heavy metals (nickel, chromium, manganese), pH levels and water clarity. Additionally, observing aquatic life – plankton, phytoplankton and local fish species – as an indicator of lake health is also necessary.
Sedimentation ponds
The company has established buffer zones around the lake to prevent entry of mining runoffs, which may carry soil particles, oil or other residual mining materials. Aeration technology and mechanical stirring are employed to maintain circulation and oxygen levels in the lake.
Harita Nickel has built at least 50 sediment retention ponds to catch rainwater runoff, preventing soil from flowing directly into rivers or the spring. One of the ponds, Tuguraci 2, covers 43ha and can hold up to 924,000 cubic metres. It is equipped with a wastewater treatment plant to ensure discharged water meets quality standards.
Sediments are periodically removed and transported to former mining areas for reclamation, while treated water from the ponds is reused.“This pond is very effective at capturing water flow within the company area,” said Dickson Aritonang from the observation team of Perkumpulan Telapak, a civil society organisation focused on environmental issues.
Expanding efforts
Nevertheless, Dickson suggested that the holding ponds be expanded to match the volume of runoff water, especially during the rainy season. “Strong-rooted trees should also be planted around the ponds to provide structural integrity and natural filtration,” he said.
On another front, the company utilises a dry stack tailing facility (DSTF), a technology for managing nickel ore processing residues by reducing the water content of tailings until they become solid. This method reduces the risk of water pollution and improves material reuse.
The team spent over 20 days observing Harita’s operations in June 2025. “While on site, we observed that the company safeguards the Kawasi spring, and the community is involved and is allowed access,” he said.
This spring supplies clean water to the new settlement in Kawasi Village 24 hours a day through a pipeline system. Dickson encouraged the company to enhance vegetation around the spring to help retain groundwater.
“Water management at Harita Nickel is already quite good and could potentially be applied by other mining companies,” he wrote in his report.
On its website, Harita stated its commitment to implementing sound ESG principles, including protecting water sources in its mining areas. This commitment is evidenced by the company’s participation in a comprehensive international mining certification audit, the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA).
In 2024, Harita Nickel became the first company in Indonesia to voluntarily undergo an audit in accordance with IRMA standards. Through its subsidiaries, Harita also received a “blue” rating in the 2024 Corporate Performance Rating Programme from Indonesia’s Ministry of Environment.
Protecting a spring in mining areas requires collaboration between companies, local communities and regional governments. Such cooperation is expected to improve public access to clean water.
According to Statistics Indonesia data, in 2024, South Halmahera had the lowest access to safe drinking water in North Maluku at 84.3%. “We must protect water sources because it is for the common good,” Budhi said.
This article originally appeared in Kompas and is republished through a content-sharing initiative of the Asia ESG Positive Impact Consortium (A-EPIC), which includes Star Media Group, Media Group of Kompas Gramedia and the Inquirer Group of Companies.
