Indonesia’s new capital city Nusantara — currently under construction in East Kalimantan — is taking a major step forward in its water infrastructure planning with the approval of 24 new water reservoirs and retention facilities designed to strengthen long-term water security for the capital and its surrounding areas. (ANTARA News)

The plan, announced by the Nusantara Capital City Authority (IKN Authority), aims to provide an expanded water storage network totaling approximately 2 million cubic meters of capacity, supplementing about 30 existing reservoirs with an additional 2 million cubic meters. These reservoirs will form the core of the city’s “Zero Delta Q” or Sponge City water management concept — a strategy to capture, store and regulate surface water more effectively during periods of heavy rainfall. (ANTARA News)

Strategic Purpose: Water Security Meets Sustainable Urban Design

According to IKN Authority Head Basuki Hadimuljono, the reservoir program is a cornerstone of Nusantara’s resilient infrastructure strategy. The expanded network is designed not only to secure long-term water supply but also to improve hydrological stability, reduce surface runoff and enhance groundwater recharge — vital in a tropical climate prone to intense seasonal rains. (ANTARA News)

The new reservoirs and retention basins will serve multiple functions:

• Water conservation: increasing reserve capacity for domestic, irrigation and emergency uses. (ANTARA News)

• Flood mitigation: managing stormwater and reducing urban runoff risks. (ANTARA News)

• Ecosystem enhancement: designed landscapes and green open spaces integrated around basins improve both city aesthetics and ecological functions. (ANTARA News)

• Urban resilience: supporting sustainable planning as government facilities and residential zones are built and populated. (ANTARA News)

The Sponge City concept — part of global urban water management practice — reflects Nusantara’s commitment to blending ecological stability with urban expansion.

Infrastructure Context: Water Supply in Nusantara Is Part of Broader Development

This reservoir initiative comes as part of a larger suite of infrastructure activities to support the new capital’s development. For example, Indonesia’s Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing has prioritized completion of the Sepaku Drinking Water Supply System (SPAM) to meet the city’s initial freshwater demand. The SPAM project — anchored by the **Sepaku Semoi Dam and a major intake facility — is designed to deliver raw water with a combined capacity of several thousand liters per second for the city and surrounding regions. (Jakarta Daily - Indonesia News Portal)

In addition, partnerships have been signed with international partners to build advanced water treatment facilities that can produce tens of thousands of cubic meters of potable water per day, further strengthening the supply backbone for the capital. (韩国时报)

These measures reflect the government’s multi-tiered strategy for ensuring both raw water availability and treated drinking water access, which are critical for a city planned to host thousands of civil servants and residents as it grows. (Jakarta Daily - Indonesia News Portal)

Planning Ahead: A Holistic Approach to Water and Urban Services

The system of reservoirs will also support other infrastructure goals, including irrigation supply, emergency firefighting reserves and micro-climate regulation, which helps reduce temperature extremes in dense urban clusters. (ANTARA News)

Retention basins integrated into public spaces are part of the city’s design philosophy to blend functional infrastructure with quality of life improvements. Landscaped areas around some reservoirs will serve as social and recreational zones, reinforcing the idea that water management infrastructure can also be an asset for community well-being. (ANTARA News)

What This Means for Indonesia’s Water Infrastructure Outlook

The decision to build 24 new reservoirs underscores the Indonesian government’s prioritization of adaptive water resource management in the face of climate pressures and rapid urban growth. As the capital city’s development continues — coordinated through multiple ministries and public-private partnerships — water supply and storage have been elevated from supporting utilities to strategic infrastructure pillars. (ANTARA News)

With construction contracts signed and cooperative frameworks underway, Nusantara’s reservoir network represents a tangible commitment to sustainable, resilient urban water planning in the decades ahead.

Sources

• ANTARA News: RI Govt to build 24 reservoirs to secure water supply for Nusantara — detailed coverage of the reservoir contract and planning goals. (ANTARA News)

• Jakarta Daily: Ministry of PUPR aims to complete SPAM Sepaku for water needs in IKN — context on drinking water system projects. (Jakarta Daily - Indonesia News Portal)

• The Korea Times: South Korean water treatment facility plan for Nusantara — international collaboration on potable water infrastructure support. (韩国时报）