The Sermo Dam Experience, Indonesia

Community Development as Key Success for Dam

Project Implementation and Operation
Vicky Ariyanti, ST, M.Sc, M.Eng, Ir. Rani Sjamsinarsi, MT, Andie Arif Wicaksono, ST,MT
Ministry of Public Works, Public Works-Housing and Mineral Resources Agency of
Yogyakarta Special Region, Universitas Teknologi Yogyakarta

ABSTRACT
The need for water reservoirs in the world keeps rising, while winning the heart of the people
to support this idea is getting more and more difficult. Sermo dam is an experience in
Indonesia, where the idea was loved and supported by the community. The key success of this
project laid on community participation and development along with building community’s
trust. Social approaches and social sciences played important role as the project is taking
away homes and lands of the people.

Sermo Dam is a medium scale dam with the only governor decree for its management in
Indonesia, situated in Kulonprogo regency of Yogyakarta Special Region, 20km from the
heart of Yogyakarta city. It was built to answer climate change challenges, due to lack of
fresh water in Kulonprogo regency, flooding in downstream area of Serang river and
environmental degradation in the surrounding area. Inundation area included around 2
million m2 in Hargowilis Village, Kokap Distric. The dam stores water effectively at 21.9
million m3 from Ngrancah tributary in Serang River basin. Its usage includes securing water
supply at 60 liter/sec, irrigation supply of Kalibawang system at 0.12 to 1.5m3/second,
tourism activity, limited fishery industry, and potential for micro-hydro.

When the project came forward, through good mediation and positive governor’s support
(which is in this case the Sultan of Yogyakarta), the community accepted and embraced this
idea. The idea of community participation imbedded on the sustainability concept, namely
Hamemayu Hayuning Bawana as envisioned in the local government’s development
philosophy. The community was involved since early stage of planning, during project
construction and even now as part of operation and maintenance team. This paper explained
and shared experience of Sermo Dam as an action in response to climate change challenges
with the support of its community.

Keywords:
climate change, community, participation, development, social approach, hamemayu concept

INTRODUCTION
Yogyakarta Special Region is indeed special in treating its only large reservoir; Sermo. Given
the Governor’s Decree since 2009 has made it more special as the only reservoir in Indonesia
which has a Decree in managing and running its function. This region was long ago started as
a Kingdom of Mataram, where the King or Sultan reigned for a life time. This tradition holds
through and the Sultan now also the Governor. The Kingdom had long time ago used the
philosophy of Hamemayu Hayuning Bawana as its vision and this is adopted into the Local
Government’s development philosophy (Maryono, 2013). Hamemayu concept states that
human living on this world has to conserve the beauty and the grace of God’s creation. In the
terminology Bawana which is the world, Maryono also considers seven aspects that form this
world; water (tirto), forest (wono), sea (samodro), air (howo), land (bantolo), culture
(budoyo), human (manungsa).

In our context with Sermo Dam, the aspect of water holds main function, while the rest would
be its supporting foundations. In order to conserve water and nature, human activities needed
to be limited respecting reservoir as an entity to support this idea. Therefore when this
philosophy is learnt as the basic community guidance, they except the term and let their land
taken in order to let the dam being built. However, this is not without struggle, as lessons are
learnt in later part of this paper how stages and steps were done to omit any negative losses.

Sermo is located Hargowillis village, Kulonprogo Regency (Figure 1 Location); most part of
the inundation area was attributed to settlements and farm lands. This dam functions as
reservoir, mainly for irrigation to supply Kalibawang System (7,125Ha), flood control and
public water supply (60 liter/second). Hydro power potential in the form of micro-hydro
generator exists, although has not been implemented and electricity needs for the surrounding
area is still much needed. Sermo’s catchment of about 22 km2 is a part of Serang River Basin,
at its Sub-Basin Ngrancah. Three tributaries runs into Ngrancah, namely Lurung, Bengkok
and Gelo.

Sermo Dam

Figure 1. Location
Source: Google Map, 2015

Irrigated lands that depended upon Sermo reservoir:

Irrigation Area Total Area (Ha) Cropping Intensity (%)
Kalibawang 2,877 293
Papah 983 200
Clereng 150 200
Kamal 80 200
Pengasih 2,035 200
Pekikjamal 1,027 200
Total 7,152 240
Table 1. Sermo Irrigated Lands
Source: BBWS SO, 2013

Water quality of Sermo is of Class II and III determined by Govenor’s Decree No. 20/2008
(see table 2 for details). Therefore a water treatment plant is needed to improve its quality
before distribution to the people. This service is provided through PDAM Kulonprogo to
distribute 60 liter/second of treated water to Kokap District which covers 80.35% of
distribution targets or 19,184 inhabitants (BBWS SO, 2013).
The factor in which Sermo functions better than any other dam in Indonesia and was declared
as the best managed dam in Inonesia (Suara Pembaruan, 2013) would be the relatively low
sedimentation rate that flows into the reservoir. This is due to good condition of catchment
area in the form of greenbelt and also dam operation manual during flood determines that
water intake gate must be open during flood in order to flush the sediment. This condition is
supported by community participation in the area that taking care of greenbelt condition in
lushly green and healthy state.
WATER QUALITY DATA
River catchment : Sermo Elevation :
River territory : Progo Opak Serang Initiator : BBWS SO
Province : Yogyakarta Special Region Laboratory : Hidrology & Water Quality Lab
Regency/District : Kulonprogo/Kokap Gadjah Mada University, Faculty of
Geography
Water Quality Standard according to Governor's Decree no.20/2008
River Middle of Reservoir Water Quality Standard
Location Sermo Reservoir
Coordinate UTM 49M 0402736 9135025 Class
Samples I II III I II
Date 10 Agust 2010 21 Sept 2011 6 Des 2012
Time 12.10 12.10 13.30
Parameter Unit
1 Temperature Celcius Degrees 30.6 29 30.6
2 Conductivity Umhos/cm 163.5 160.3 159.53
3 Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) mg/l 344 105 204 1000 1000
4 Salinity %
5 Turbidity mg/l 2.5 3.06 3.99 - -
6 pH - 7.46 6.66 7.04 5.5-6 6-9
7 Alkalinity mg/l CaCO3
8 Acidity mg/l CO2
9 Dissolved Oxygen mg/l 7.2 6.3 7.39 5 >5
10 DO mg/l 16.1 10.3 6 5 >5
11 COD mg/l 3.24 5.41 16.06 25 25
12 BOD mg/l 0.1 1.6 0.14 3 3
13 Chloride (Cl) mg/l
14 Nitrate (NO3) mg/l
15 Nitrite (NO2) mg/l
16 Sulphate (SO4) mg/l
17 Ferum (Fe) mg/l 0.777 1.4 0.026 - -
18 Cupprum (Cu) mg/l
19 Coliforms Collony/100ml
20 Total Suspended Solid (TSS) mg/l 11 1.2 39.5 50 50
21 Water Hardness mg/l
22 Calcium (Ca) mg/l
23 Magnesium (Mg) mg/l
24 Potassium Permanganate(KMnO4) mg/l
25 Orthophosphoric Acid mg/l
26 Amonium (NH4) mg/l 0.746 <.0094 <.0094 - -
27 Oil and Fat mg/l
28 Phenol mg/l
29 Colour mg/l
30 Dissolved Cromium (Cr) mg/l
31 Dissolved Plumbum (Pb) mg/l
32 Chlarida mg/l
33 Dissolved Nickel (Ni) mg/l
34 Dissolved Zinc (Zn) mg/l
35 Dissolved Cadmium (Cd) mg/l
36 Manganese (Mn) mg/l
37 Selerium (Se) mg/l
38 Barium (Ba) mg/l
39 Cobalt (Co) mg/l
40 Mercury (Hg) mg/l
41 Total Phosphate mg/l
42 Water Level cm 3900 3000 2000
43 Debit m3/sec
Table 2. Sermo Water Quality
Source: BBWS SO, 2013

TECHNICAL DATA
Sermo with its 25 Million m3 of water body is relatively medium size reservoir in Indonesia.
The height of dam crest is 52.60 m, width 8 m, length 190 m, consists of 568,000 m3 zoned
rock fill dam with central clay core. Complementary structures are riprap at the side structure,
diversion tunnel, intake tower, and ogee floodway without gate.

Figure 2 : Dam Situation dan Section
Source: Mac Donald & Partner, 1980

METHODOLOGY
In order to explore community development in Sermo Reservoir, this study uses qualitative
method, by means of conducting historical research background, literature study and field
study. Field study was done in the area of Sermo, contributing 5 respondents to each 4
locations around Sermo Reservoirs. Combined, the results will be analysis findings; these
would then be concluded in the end of the paper.

Literature

History Findings Field Study

Analysis:
Community
Development

Conclusion

Figure 2a : Methodology
Source: Writer, 2015

SERMO’S HISTORY
Sermo starts with an idea to irrigate farm lands that have limited water in Serang River basin.
Due to the river’s characteristic, morphology and geohydrology condition; water during rainy
season flows and flooded much of its basin, while during dry season very small amount stays.
The studies start as early as 1960 and the final decision of the design was approved in 1994.
Table 3 explains in details of studies related to Sermo.

Year Study/Plan By
1960 Kulonprogo Irrigation Outline PT. Indah Karya
1970 Kali Progo Basin Study Mac Donald & Partner
1979 Sermo and Sambiroto Dams – Pre- Feasibility Report Mac Donald & Partner
1980 Sermo and Sambiroto Dams – Feasibility Report, Main Mac Donald & Partner
Report
1984 Greater Yogyakarta Ground Water Resources Study –Main Mac Donald & Partner
Report
1985 Detail Design Work of Sermo Dam Project – Main Report PT. Indra Karya
1990 Design Review of Opak Serang Irrigation Rehabilitation PT. Indra Karya
Project – Design Review of Sermo Dam
1990 Agro Institutional Profiles for Clereng, Pengasih, PT. Puser Bumi
Pekikjamal, Kalibawang, Donomulyo, Penjalin and Papah
Irrigation Schemes and for Sermo Dam
1991 Survey Investigation and Review Study on Semo Dam, PT. Indra Karya
 Opak Serang Irrigation Sub-Project, Yogyakarta – Review
Study Project
1994 Sermo Dam Spillway Model Test, Yogyakarta Puslitbang Pengairan
1994 Downstream/Outlet Infrastructure Report Team Fact Finding, Ditjen.
Pengairan
1994 Short Visit Report to Sermo Dam, DIY Puslitbang Pengairan
1994 Final Report on Design of Sermo Dam & Appurtenant ELC
Structures
Table 3. Sermo Related Studies
Source: Writer Compilation, 2015

Sermo was a part of Sermo - Sambiroto Dams Plan, which given a result to be a duo
reservoirs to water more lands and provide sustainable water reserves. Sermo was then chosen
to be the first to be built, while Sambiroto never got it chance to be built. The construction
takes up about 3 years begin in 1994 until 1996, which was fortunately, under Soeharto
Regime. During the relocation phase, as many as 556 families were freed of their land, upon
which 100 families incorporated in transmigration to Taktoi, Bengkulu in Sumatera, 7
families move to Riau in a palm oil plantation, while the rest stayed in surrounding villages.
Inundated land of 219.5 Ha or 2,195,000 m2 was the result of this relocation (Wulandari,
2007).

WINNING COMMUNITY’S TRUST

This part of study is done through literature and field study. The heart of community lays in
favor of political condition during which Sermo was built under the Soeharto Regime had
contributed to obedience of inhabitants. However, more emphasized was given due to the way
people were respected as a person and culturally acknowledged. The Hamemayu philosophy
that originate in Yogyakarta Special Region’s local government vision and embedded in the
heart and soul of the people also help to characterize the inhabitants to be wiser in terms of
conserving the nature. They learnt it as values pass down between generations from the old
Mataram Kingdom (Wagiran, 2012). Given this background as an asset, working to aim at
community’s trust would be alluring their social capital as an identified community in Sermo
to set course in rethinking about their surroundings, it potentials and also their own capacity
as a person not merely rural farmers.

Rethinking process in a community helps them defining their asses, create new options, with
base of underlying issues and problems, in this case losing their homes and farm lands
(Cavaye,2001), even identity as a village inhabitants that would submerge bellow reservoir’s
water. However, to be actually winning community’s trust, initiators of Sermo Dam project
has included and engage the local people as part of the project since its beginnings
(Wulandari, 2007; BBWS SO, 2013; Writer’s Field Study, 2015):

1. When Sermo Dam idea was firstly introduced, there was a strategic meeting to the
public figures in which the community put their trust into. These persons are the main
figures that put the gear up the community saying yes to the proposal; they are R.
Suhardjo (Lurah or Village Chief), Dirjo Wahyudi (elder) and Baurejo. They then
become the spoke persons to discuss community needs, community involvements and
demands.
2. Relocation alternatives were given as options to the people, i.e. transmigration to
Riau, Taktoi in Bengkulu or move to surrounding villages. This transmigration
program was also a big deal in Soeharto Era, it seeks new development area in other
islands, so that there will be chance for Indonesian people to live other than in Java
Island.
3. When the people were given these options, the 3 public figures were given the
opportunity to visit the proposed location in Riau and Bengkulu. They were flown
there and stayed for some time, taking in details of location and report back to the
community. Taktoi in Bengkulu was chosen as favorite option due to its
 environmental similarities that is to Sermo, hilly green forest and at that time no
electricity.
4. During the first years when the land is still bare, the government also subsidized their
food and daily needs. The ones that choose to be transmigrated to Taktoi even had
given a set of Gamelan, to keep the cultural activity going and conserve their
indigenous values.
5. The price for the land that time was considered higher than standard, which is IDR
500- 1,000/M2 compared to the compensation IDR 2,500-5,000/m2. Or the ones that
committed to transmigration program get their land 10 times as much land size, i.e.
for example 1,000 m2 would get 1 Ha in transmigration area.
6. When compensation was given to the community, a certain bank was involved, so
right then and there, people put their money to saving account. That particular day
was celebrated like a small festival, Wayang or Shadow Puppet show was given, a
small market with balloons, food stalls, etc. were present, so that people can buy little
token from their money, but not spending it into wrong investments or being tricked
by villains.
7. As for those who stayed behind, there were trainings and workshops to prepare them
to embrace the new way of living. Given the condition and their farms lands will be
inundated and they will stay by the hilly sides of the reservoir, there were some
adjustments that needed to be done. From farming to tourism activity, there were also
some skills that are required to be learnt.

These steps were done in relatively short time (1994-1996), even though at the beginning they
were very surprised to deal with new livelihoods, after 5 years running, the people are
accustomed to the condition and even now developed new activities surrounding Sermo.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IN SERMO

This process of community participation does not end there, it evolved into community
development. In definition, community development combines the idea of “community” with
“development”. The concept of community is a group of people with a shared identity. Based
on this concept, community development depends on interaction between people and joint
action or also called “collective agency” (Flora, 1997). “Development” is a process that
increases choices.

Development comprises change, improvement and vitality – a directed attempt to advance

participation, flexibility, equity, attitudes, the function of institutions and the quality of life. It
is the creation of wealth in terms of values not merely economically, but also other values
(Shaffer, 1989). It can also means new options, diversification, thinking about apparent
issues differently and anticipating change (Christenson et.al., 1989).

Thus, community development in this context means that community as the actor of change
in improvement processes in terms of social, economic and environmental condition. To
stress this point, writers used respondent samplings in field study from various locations in
surrounding areas of Sermo, as shown below:
 III

II

IV

Figure 3. Location of Respondents Sampling

Source: Google Map, 2015

Each location is represented with 5 respondents; the analytical results are accumulated and
expressed as below:
Settings Sample I Sample II Sample III Sample IV
Location Operator Office Tourism Dock Village Administration Meeting Hall
Office
Satisfactory Level for High High High Medium to High
Sermo Dam Service
Evident of Community Officers taken from Hospitality Officers taken from Security officers taken
Participation local people services taken local people, trees from locals
from locals planted belong to people
Evident of Community Operation & Boat services, Tourism Village: O&M of Hall done
Development Maintenance of tourist guides, Kalibiru was becoming through Gotong Royong
dam done from people taken point of new attraction, (cooperation among
experiences of the interest in initiation of Dragon locals)
elders providing food Boat Festival, trees that
stalls surrounding are planted are in
the dock purpose of conserving
catchment area with
fruit or non-wood
production trees.
Hamemayu Expressions Operators are in Services are given Officers are in charge of Meetings are held
charge of to conserve the managing the local regularly, twice per month
maintaining the nature and people and engaging to secure water allocation
safety of dam & maintain the social roles for farmers; other
regular water beauty of Sermo meetings can also be held
allocation using this hall, especially
related to tourism
workshops.
Table 4. Respondents Sampling
Source: Writer Field Survey, 2015

Respondents show that evident of community participation has led to community

development, having the sense of belonging for Sermo also the foundation of their awareness
and pride of being part of Sermo. In the case of Sermo it evolves into new ways and better
future for the people who once lived in the submerged village. They accept their new role of
transmigration as a new opportunity that proven to be success.

Most of them who went took the plunge return to Sermo only during holidays to visit
relatives; they lived in Taktoi now as proud member of society that has given their property
rights to their government, acclaiming new success status, and also contribute to the
conservation of nature. For those who stayed behind, according to the zoning plan that was
decreed by the Governor can be seen in figure 4. According to this plan, green belt is
appointed to be open conservation area (dark blue), the water body as semi-closed zone
(green), and the management facilities as closed zone (red). The decree also include rules how
to conserve the forest and catchment area in order to keep the water quality and quantity at
Sermo in desirable condition also to keep the sediment rate at lower level.

Figure 5. Zoning Plan

Source: Yogyakarta Special Region Governor, 2009
CONCLUSION
In the light of this experience, Sermo as one of the most successful dam project in Indonesia,
has taken more emphasize on community as lead sector among initiators. Hamemayu as a
development concept by the local government has shaped the characteristic of the people. It
has so far being recognize as the most appreciated reservoir by the locals and this needs to be
celebrated, so that people are more boosted to achieve other progress and keep rethinking
about their goals in order to be able to conserve and maintain Sermo condition, not only as a
dam, but also as a region, where catchment area is also preserved with community
development.

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