Abstract

A survey of heavy metals (Hg, Cd, Pb) in drinking water at small and very small houses was conducted in Jakarta, Bogor, Tangerang and Bekasi (Jabotabek), in 1992. The purpose of this study was to get information about water quality and environmental condition of water sources at low cost housing and very low cost housing in Jabotabek. Forty to sixty water samples were taken from each location and analyzed by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The mercury concentration was analyzed using Cold Vapor Technique, whereas Cd and Pb were analized using The Air-acetylene method. Water samples were collected in dry season and rainy season. Interview of the owners of the house and of environmental observation of the water sources were done to get information about the condition of drinking water sources. The highest concentration of mercury detected in Jakarta was in the rainy season (2.50 mg/l). Cadmium and Lead were detected in Bogor, (Cd: 0.26 mg/l) in the rainy season and Pb : 0.16 mg/l in dry season). However 41.5% water samples from Jakarta were exceeding the mercury concentration standard, 25.4% water samples from Bogor were exceeding cadmium concentration standard, and 41.1% water samples from Bogor were exceeding lead concentration standard Heavy metals concentration in drinking water at Bekasi and Tangerang were relatively lower than Bogor and Jakarta. The environmental condition of shallow wells in Bekasi and Tangerang were also better than Bogor and Jakarta.