Abundance of Water Hyacinth for the Reclamation of Land Mines in East Kalimantan

The presence of Eichhornia crassipes species, ie plants with water hyacinth name, in different waters have now become a problem for the environment. Water hyacinth and water plants that are more often considered a nuisance aquatic plants, have a very fast growth rate. Within 3-4 months, the water hyacinth is able to cover more than 70% of the surface of the lake. If the area of ​​1 hectare lake consisting of 10,000 m2 with an estimated population of this plant has a height of 0.5 m, will be equivalent to 5000 m3 or will weigh 1500 tons / ha on the assumption the average weight of 300 kg/m3.

The rapid growth of water hyacinth and the high survival of this plant makes it very difficult to control. In some countries, control of water hyacinth by mechanical, chemical and biological never give optimal results. Water hyacinth has the potential to eliminate the surface water to four-fold when compared with the exposed surface. Population growth is uncontrolled water hyacinth causes siltation of aquatic ecosystems and the closing of the rivers and lakes (Gopal and Sharma, 1981).

In addition to usefulness in absorbing heavy metals and pesticides, water hyacinth had a lot of losses because of its ability to grow rapidly. Some losses due to the growth of uncontrolled water hyacinth, among others:

• Increased evapotranspiration (evaporation and water loss through the leaves of plants), because the leaves are wide and well as fast growth.
• The reduced amount of light entering into the waters, causing a decreased level of oxygen solubility in water (DO: Dissolved Oxygens).
• Water hyacinth plants are already dead will come down to the bottom so as to accelerate the process of silting.
• Interfering traffic (transport) of water, especially for people whose lives still depend on rivers such as the interior of Borneo and some other areas.
• Increased habitat for vectors of disease in humans.

Water hyacinth, is no exception, is growing rapidly in various watersheds of the island of Borneo, including in the middle of the Mahakam river in East Kalimantan. There are some 76 lakes scattered in the Mahakam River basin and about 30 lakes located in the middle Mahakam area includes three main lakes (Lake Jempang 15.000 ha, 13.000 ha Semayang Lake, and 11.000 ha Melintang Lake). River with a length of about 920 km across the region is the West Kutai regency in the upstream, until the Kutai Kartanegara and the city of Samarinda downstream. Increasingly busy river traffic by going the return of big ships and small motorized boats to be another serious threat. Bustling economic activity increased by utilizing the river as transportation arteries have been "robbed" of fish habitat, especially Pesut Mahakam. Pesut Mahakam was increasingly isolated in its habitat due to competition from machines that cast the ship noise and pollute rivers with toxic oil waste. Now, two large lakes which are the Mahakam river area was dominated by water hyacinth, as well as a large number of other dry land dominated by reeds. It is clear as environmental burden that will affect environmental quality, which in turn will affect agriculture in its broadest sense also in the region.

On the premise that, more than 9 members of the Commission II DPRD Kukar, and Chairman of the DPRD Kukar, Ir.H. Awang Luqman, MM opportunity to conduct comparative studies in order to study the control of water hyacinth proposed company PT. Cipta Visi Sinar Kencana, August 19, 2011 last.

On the occasion, Sonson Garsoni introducing Bio Electrical Installation 7000L consisting of 3 units of 7000-liter digester, a machine enumerator MPO 500 HD (Honda), 3 MP 24 150 biogas purification unit (stainless steel), gas holder capacity> 10 m3, 3 units BG 5000 generator (5000 watt power generator biogas), bacterial methane activators GP-7 for 1 month and equipment installation to the stove and generator units. Biogas and Bio Electrical Installation BioPhosko BD 7000L enabled to process waste biomass or organic waste, including water hyacinth for the first time in 21 m3 (equivalent to 7 tons) and then 4.2 m3 or 1.26 tons / day.

According Sonson Garsoni, every day, the output shelter Installation BD 7000 L produces biogas with a purity> 80% methane (CH4) as much as 37.8 m3 that has power and high calorie burning stove as the ingredient for cooking equivalent of 17, 388 kg of LPG, or fuel can ignite the gas generator 5000 watt 3 units of 45.36 kWh (kilo watt hour). In addition to revenue from sales of fuel gas or electric energy above, the installation of shelters BD 7000L produces mud (sludge) with the quality of organic liquid fertilizer as much as 3.78 m 3 / day. This sludge can be enhanced by adding thereto various bacteria ( N2 fixation, the solvent phosphate and KCL) or substance grown, so have added value as a biological fertilizer or organic fertilizer.

Procurement digester in a shelter Bio Electrical installation is expected to be able to cope with population growth of water hyacinth in the lake in Kutai in East Kalimantan in particular and in general. Besides the people who depend their lives on the lakes or on the banks of the river Mahakam get benefit from the shackles of water hyacinth in the river waters modes of transportation such as motor boats, pontoon or boat is also available fuel for lighting or fuel for cooking fish and smoke events in general and get the electrical energy for the growth of small industries in the rural interior Kutai.