BWS Bali Penida Dredges Sediment at Muara Nusa Dua Reservoir

Denpasar — — The Bali-Penida River Basin Authority is carrying out sediment dredging at Muara Nusa Dua Reservoir in Denpasar to restore storage capacity and support water flows to a downstream drinking water utility intake, according to an official update published on 27 August 2026.

The work is being conducted by the Operations and Maintenance unit for water resources (Satker Operasi dan Pemeliharaan Sumber Daya Air Bali Penida) under the Bali-Penida River Basin Organization (Balai Wilayah Sungai Bali Penida). The agency states that the dredging aims to optimize reservoir storage and maintain the flow of water toward a PDAM intake downstream.

PDAM is the acronym commonly used in Indonesia for regional drinking water utilities. The official notice does not identify which PDAM is served by the intake or specify how many customers could benefit from the maintenance.

Routine maintenance at Muara Nusa Dua

According to the river basin authority’s 27 August 2026 announcement, the dredging at Muara Nusa Dua Reservoir forms part of ongoing maintenance of the infrastructure through sediment removal. The update focuses on water storage and delivery to the PDAM intake and does not quantify the volume of sediment to be removed or detail disposal arrangements.

The same agency has previously highlighted the reservoir’s dual role in both supplying raw water to PDAM and supporting flood control and environmental protection. Earlier rehabilitation work at Muara Nusa Dua was described as helping to control sediment and waste so they do not damage downstream mangrove areas and as contributing to flood mitigation for Tukad Badung, the river that discharges into the reservoir.

Local media have also reported earlier dredging and rehabilitation projects at Muara Nusa Dua aimed at managing high sedimentation and solid waste and at reducing flood risk in Denpasar. Those reports underline that sediment build-up has significantly reduced the reservoir’s effective storage capacity over time, prompting periodic dredging campaigns.

Dry-season context

The latest dredging activity comes during Bali’s dry season, when water availability and infrastructure reliability are a broader management concern for authorities. In recent updates, the Bali-Penida River Basin Authority has reported coordination between provincial and central government agencies to anticipate drought impacts, maintain water supplies and manage river basin infrastructure.

Previous communications from the same authority and national ministries have emphasized Muara Nusa Dua Reservoir’s strategic role in providing raw water to PDAM in the main tourism areas around Nusa Dua, Kuta, Benoa and the airport corridor, as well as supporting flood management and environmental functions in the lower reaches of Tukad Badung.

Key points confirmed

• Location: Muara Nusa Dua Reservoir, Denpasar
• Start date: Thursday, 27 August 2026
• Implementing agency: Satker Operasi dan Pemeliharaan SDA Bali Penida under BWS Bali Penida
• Stated purpose: Optimize reservoir storage capacity and support the flow of water to a downstream PDAM intake
• Sediment volume: Not disclosed in the 27 August 2026 announcement
• Completion date: Not disclosed

Information still not disclosed

The river basin authority’s 27 August 2026 notice does not specify the project budget, contractor, method and location of sediment disposal or the target date for completion. It also does not provide a before-and-after capacity assessment or confirm whether the dredging is expected to deliver measurable gains for drinking water supply, flood control, or both.

Earlier official and media reports indicate that sedimentation and waste accumulation at Muara Nusa Dua have been persistent issues, requiring regular maintenance to preserve storage capacity and support both water-supply and flood-management functions. However, the current maintenance campaign has so far been described only in general terms, with detailed technical and environmental information yet to be released.

Sources

• BWS Bali Penida – Berita Balai (Denpasar, 27 Agustus 2026 – pemeliharaan Waduk Muara Nusa Dua melalui pengerukan sedimentasi)
• Bali Express – Kendalikan Banjir, Waduk Muara Nusa Dua Direhabilitasi
• detikBali – Muara Tukad Badung Denpasar Mulai Dikeruk untuk Cegah Banjir