Improving Regional Capacities: Hydrodynamic Models and Polluted Waters, Jakarta Bay, Indonesia

Client: International Atomic Energy Agency
Year: 2005-Ongoing
Project Reference: 04108
WRL Technical Report: Improving Regional Capacity for Assessment, Planning and Response to Aquatic Environmental Emergencies: Jakarta Bay, Indonesia (2007/12)

Dr William Glamore is currently involved in a multi-national project to advance regional capacities, while simultaneously improving knowledge of the hydrodynamics of Jakarta Bay, Indonesia.

The project, which is a collaborative effort with the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), and Indonesian governmental and academic institutions, is funded by AusAID through the United Nation’s International Atomic Energy Agency Regional Cooperative Agreement.

The project aims to improve regional capacity for assessing, planning, and responding to aquatic environmental emergencies through field studies, hydrodynamic modelling, hands-on training and the development of risk assessment tools. Thirteen canals and rivers discharge into Jakarta Bay contributing a heavy load of sewage, nutrients, litter, heavy metals and organic pollutants to the bay, which houses an active fishing and mussel farming industry.

As a UN expert in hydrodynamic processes, Dr Glamore has been working with Dr Cath Hughes and Ron Szymczak (ANSTO) and other Indonesian colleagues on a major demonstration site in Jakarta Bay, Indonesia. The study aims to:

Understand the local water based pollution issues within Jakarta Bay
Construct a field programme with local experts that addresses the major water quality and contaminant transport concerns
Conduct a field scale study of the contaminant plume behaviour using radiotracing techniques
Develop a 3D hydrodynamic model of the bay to predict contaminant transport
Link the hydrodynamic model results with ecological risk assessment models (AQUARISK) to determine the risk for key local species
Transfer knowledge on hydrodynamic and risk assessment methods to local experts

A reconnaissance mission was undertaken in September 2005 to meet with Indonesian delegates and discuss potential field exercises. In May 2006, Dr Glamore working in conjunction with ANSTO, BATAN (Indonesian Nuclear Agency), and other Indonesian governmental/academic colleagues participated in the field study in Jakarta Bay.

Recent fish kills and pollutant spills have highlighted the need for a contaminant transport model of the bay. For these reasons, a radiotracer experiment was conducted using ^99mTc from a medical generator to trace the movement and dispersion of water in the nearshore zone and in deeper water offshore. Radiotracer circulation patterns agreed with initial model predictions and the data is currently being used to calculate dispersion parameters and refine the 3D hydrodynamic model (RMA-10).

Once calibrated, selected Indonesian delegates will be trained to use and further develop the numerical model. It is envisaged that the calibrated model will be applied by governmental and academic experts in the future to a number of local hydrodynamic studies.