Citarum

The Citarum is a major river in West Java, Indonesia. Its name derives from Sundanese elements: "ci" meaning water or river and "tarum" referring to the indigo plant. The river rises in the southern highlands near Bandung, flows generally northward through urban and agricultural areas including the Bandung metropolitan region, and discharges into the Java Sea.

With a long course and a large drainage basin, the Citarum is one of Java’s most important rivers for water supply, agriculture, and industry. The basin covers several thousand square kilometers and supports cities, factories, farming, and rural communities. The river’s flow and water quality have been affected by urbanization, industry, and land-use changes in the basin.

Since the late 20th century, the Citarum has become one of the world’s most polluted rivers due to untreated domestic wastewater and effluent from textile, leather, electronics, and other industries based in the Bandung area. Contaminants including heavy metals and organic pollutants jeopardize ecosystems and limit safe water use for many residents. The situation has attracted international attention and led to large-scale remediation efforts.

A long-running cleanup program brings together government agencies, local authorities, international organizations, and communities to reduce pollution, expand wastewater treatment, rehabilitate riverbanks, and improve solid-waste management. While some stretches show improvements and greater public awareness, pollution persists in many sections, and restoration remains a multi-decade effort with ongoing challenges balancing development and environmental protection.