Abstract

One of the major problems in providing clean water for the Kisar Islands of Pulau-Pulau Terselatan district, the South West Regency, the Province of Maluku, is limited dependable resources of water, both on its quality and quantity. In dry season, people are forced to buy clean water and those who are in deficient economic condition can only use poor quality water. Although there are no surface water resources in this area, it actually has potential resources to cope with the problems. It has 7 small reservoirs in the island which play strategic roles in supporting the availability of raw water to provide clean water for the area. The objective of this study is to study the water availability potentials in the catchment area, water demand in those small reservoirs service area and water balance in Abusur reservoir. Results of this study, in the form of water volume fluctuations at Abusur existing condition, showed that it experienced water surplus up to the end of the dry season. In November, a total volume of 32,363.9 m2 was available in the reservoir while a total volume of 59,370.5 m2 was discharged in the form of runoff. The proportion indicated 31.9%, 47.9%, and 20.3% of water use was for household, vegetable fields, and farming, respectively. Analysis showed that evaporated water balance components, various purposes water demand, run-off and infiltration were 15.12%, 32, 8%, 17, 48% and 34, 52%, respectively. Reservoirs optimization to widening the command area was carried out by leveling up the reservoir body in order to improve water capacity to have more utilization and optimum reservoir.

Keywords: water availability, water demand, water balance, development