Aspects of water resources management in karst areas exemplified by the Gunung Kidul region on the island Java, Indonesia

The karst region Ciunung Sewu in southern Java faces severe problems of water scarcity during the dry season. This is caused by the special hydrology of karst systems, where surface water is scarce and subterranean drainage abundant. Rain water rapidly infiltrates the ground and is therefore not accessible for the local population. This paper gives an overview of innovative technical solutions to increase the availability of underground water resources. Additionally, the porosity of karst structures reduces the water-filtering capability of the soil. Consequently, untreated wastewater from human settlements is a major threat to the aquifer. Because improved water availability for the population means more wastewater discharges from the population, it is necessary to improve the currently underdeveloped local wastewater treatment. Therefore, this paper also attempts to find answers to the question how to protect the water quality of the aquifer through appropriate wastewater treatment.