WATER RANGERS: Constructed Wetland Development for Sustainable Paddy Irrigation and Water Quality Improvement

Background 

The coastal region of Pekalongan City faces severe challenges related to food security, stemming from seawater intrusion and high soil salinity. These issues render significant portions of farmland unproductive, exacerbated by poor drainage, low nutrient availability, and extreme soil acidity or alkalinity. Furthermore, water scarcity hinders agricultural productivity. The current irrigation infrastructure, relying heavily on sedimentation-prone channels and rainfed systems, fails to deliver adequate water supply. 

Main Beneficiary 

The primary beneficiaries of this project are local farmers, whose livelihoods depend on improving agricultural productivity, and the broader community, which stands to gain from sustainable food production and environmental improvements. 

Solution Proposal 

The proposed solution to address the challenges in Krapyak Subdistrict, North Pekalongan, involves two key strategies: the development of constructed wetlands and the redesign of irrigation channels. Constructed wetlands mimic natural ecosystems to treat irrigation water contaminated by household, industrial, and river waste. This system incorporates phytoremediators like Phragmites australis and Typha spp. and zeolite-based filtration media, ensuring water quality suitable for agricultural use. Additionally, water quality monitoring devices are installed at outlet points to guarantee safety standards. Alongside this, irrigation channels are redesigned to enhance water flow by removing sediment and vegetation, integrating automatic water gates, and deploying digital monitoring systems for real-time management of water discharge and quality. A leaching process is also applied, involving repeated cycles of soaking and draining the soil to reduce salinity levels effectively. These approaches collectively aim to restore the functionality of agricultural lands, improve irrigation efficiency, and create a sustainable agricultural framework for the region. 

Impact 

The project is expected to deliver substantial social, economic, and environmental benefits. Directly, it will reduce soil salinity, restoring previously unproductive lands and increasing rice productivity, thus contributing to farmers’ income and food security. This aligns with global sustainability goals such as SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 15 (Life on Land). Enhanced water quality and availability, achieved through irrigation system improvements, will support SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation). Economically, the project opens avenues for income diversification through agroedutourism, creating new opportunities for education-based tourism and promoting organic and sustainable agricultural products in the market, aligned with SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). Environmentally, the initiative improves soil and water quality while mitigating pollution from local industries, fostering a healthier ecosystem. By integrating agronomy, education, and tourism, the project not only addresses critical agricultural challenges but also uplifts the socio-economic value of the region. 

See more details on our presentation slide below:

Team Profile