The Citarum River is a nationally strategic water resource serving vital functions
such as raw water supply, irrigation, hydroelectric power, and supporting the
socio-economic life of West Java communities. However, the massive
accumulation of waste especially household and domestic waste has led to severe
pollution across the river basin. The government addressed this issue by forming
the Citarum Watershed Pollution and Damage Control Task Force through
Presidential Regulation Number 15 of 2018, which divides the operational area
into 23 sectors, including Sector 22 in Bandung Regency. Sector 22 executes
pollution control through three main stages: prevention via public education and
environmental patrols; mitigation through river clean-up efforts and violation
reporting; and restoration through riverbank greening and area management.
Major challenges include low public awareness, limited waste management
infrastructure, and the lack of direct legal authority to enforce sanctions. Effective
pollution control depends on coordinated action between the task force, local
government, and the public, supported by strong and enforceable legal
instruments.