Bandung, W Java (Antara Bali) - The World Wide Foundation, an international non-governmental organization, in cooperation with a national bank, has opened an educational water laboratory at the Rumah Belajar Bumi Panda, Bandung, West Java.
The World Wide Foundation focuses on conservation, research, and restoration of the environment.
The laboratory, whose opening coincided with the World Water Day, will serve as a learning medium for people who want to gain information about water conservation, in particular about water streaming from the river.
"In this laboratory, visitors can test water samples taken from their houses or any other source, and examine the condition and quality of the water they consume every day," Marketing Director of WWF-Indonesia, Devy Suradji, said in a statement received by Antara on Tuesday.
Moreover, he continued, visitors will also be able to know more about the sources of water, the benefits involved, and other interesting aspects about rivers across Indonesia.
Based on the Living Planet Report published by the WWF in 2014, the Living Planet Index for freshwater has significantly decreased, falling by 76 percent, starting from 1970 to 2010.
About five million people die of waterborne diseases every year.
According to Suradji, some Indonesian islands have already been experiencing water deficit, such as Java, Bali, East Nusa Tenggara and Sulawesi.
"Although Sumatera has a surplus of freshwater, its freshwater sources are now threatened by pollution due to certain activities which are not environment-friendly, such as mining, industrial waste and household waste," he stated. (WDY)
