Pesticide warehouse fire in South Tangerang affects raw water intake, residents report unusual odor from tap water.
JAKARTA — A chemical spill into the Cisadane River following a pesticide warehouse fire in South Tangerang has disrupted clean water services in Tangerang, prompting water quality checks, public advisories and growing concern among residents.
PT Aetra Tangerang confirmed that it is conducting intensive raw water quality examinations after contamination was detected in the river, which serves as a primary source of raw water for the region’s PDAM supply.
In a statement posted on its official Instagram account on Tuesday (Feb 10, 2026), Aetra said its clean water operations could not run at optimal capacity.
“This decline in raw water quality requires strict inspection, so our Water Treatment Plant cannot operate optimally at this time,” the company wrote.
The operator added that once the Cisadane River returns to normal conditions, water treatment operations will resume fully and supply to customers will be restored. The company also apologised to customers for the service disruption.
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Fire at Pesticide Warehouse Triggers River Contamination
According to Hadiman, a section head at the South Tangerang Environmental Agency (DLH Tangsel), the contamination stemmed from a fire at a pesticide chemical warehouse in the Taman Tekno industrial area in Setu district.
The blaze caused chemical liquid substances to flow into nearby waterways.
“As a result, chemical liquid materials were carried by the current and flowed into a tributary, turning the water white with a pungent odor,” Hadiman said in a written statement.
The pollution reportedly altered the river’s color and smell. Fish in the affected stream were seen floating dead after exposure to the pesticide liquid.
The contaminated flow eventually reached the Cisadane River, which cuts through central Tangerang and supplies raw water to PDAM facilities serving both the city and regency.
Residents Detect Kerosene-Like Smell in Tap Water
By Tuesday morning, residents in parts of Tangerang began noticing unusual odors from their household water supply.
Nur Azizah, 55, a homemaker living in Bencongan Indah, Kelapa Dua district, said she detected a kerosene-like smell coming from her bathroom tap.
“It smells like kerosene, so I didn’t dare use it,” she said. “After I saw the news that it was because of a pesticide warehouse fire, we decided not to use it, especially for cooking.”
In local WhatsApp groups, residents were advised not to process or use PDAM water — particularly for cooking — for the next two days.
As an alternative, Nur Azizah said she asked a neighbor for groundwater to use in preparing meals.
“I asked for groundwater from the nearest neighbor,” she said.
Authorities Conduct Laboratory Tests
The Head of Pollution and Environmental Damage Control at the Tangerang City Environmental Agency, Hendry Pratama Syahputra, said that based on data from the agency’s Water Quality Index (IKA) monitoring tools, results were still within normal range.
However, he acknowledged that specific testing for pesticide-related contamination was necessary.
“For the pesticide pollution source, we need to test it again in the laboratory,” Hendry said. “We have requested the lab to analyze the water samples. It will take two to five days to determine the type of chemical contamination and whether pesticide content is present.”
He urged the public not to use water directly from the Cisadane River — not for consumption, fishing, washing, or any other purposes.
“We advise residents not to consume fish from the river, not from yesterday, not now, and not in the coming days,” he said. “Including any use of river water itself. Some people still wash or use it for other needs, some search for river worms — we advise against all such use temporarily.”
Clean Water Supply Under Close Monitoring
The Simpang Renggam Water Treatment Plant remains operational but at controlled capacity to ensure continuity of supply while maintaining safety standards.
Aetra Tangerang said it would continue closely monitoring raw water conditions and resume full operations once quality standards are met.
“If conditions improve, including favorable weather and heavy rainfall in the catchment areas, the scheduled operations will be reviewed,” the company stated.
For now, authorities are calling on residents to remain cautious, conserve water, and await laboratory results that will determine the extent and nature of the contamination.
As investigations continue, the incident underscores the vulnerability of urban water systems to industrial accidents — and the importance of swift coordination between environmental agencies, water operators and local communities to safeguard public health.
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