October 24, 2025 | 01:24 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Danone Indonesia has responded to public scrutiny regarding the source of water used in its Aqua bottled water brand, following a viral video of West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi’s impromptu inspection at the PT Tirta Investama (Aqua) factory in Subang.
In the video, factory representatives told Dedi that the water was sourced from boreholes, sparking public concern.
Danone Indonesia has since clarified that the statement was incomplete and that Aqua’s water does not come from ordinary boreholes.
“Aqua water comes from 19 mountain spring sources across Indonesia,” Danone Indonesia said in a written statement on Thursday, October 23, 2025.
According to the company, the water is drawn from deep aquifers in mountainous areas rather than surface water or shallow groundwater.
These aquifers, located 60 to 140 meters underground, are naturally protected by impermeable layers, keeping them free from human contamination.
Danone said its water extraction sites have been scientifically reviewed by hydrogeology experts from Gadjah Mada University (UGM) and Padjadjaran University (Unpad).
“UGM and Unpad have confirmed that Aqua’s water sources do not intersect with water used by the public,” the company stated.
The bottled water producer also emphasized that its extraction activities are fully licensed and regularly monitored by both regional and central governments through the Geological Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM).
Danone added that Aqua follows a Ground Water Resources Policy to ensure the purity and quality of its sources while preserving water ecosystems and supporting sustainable development in surrounding areas.
Citing joint studies with UGM, the company said its water extraction practices have not caused land subsidence or landslides. “However, other factors such as land-use changes and deforestation may contribute to these risks,” Danone noted.
The controversy began when Governor Dedi Mulyadi posted a video of his surprise visit to Aqua’s Subang facility on Instagram on Wednesday, October 22, 2025.
During the inspection, company representatives confirmed that the factory’s water is drawn from underground through boreholes rather than from surface sources such as rivers or springs.
“So it’s boreholed?” Dedi asked in the video, to which the factory staff replied, “Yes, it’s boreholed, Sir.”
The governor then warned of potential environmental impacts from deep groundwater drilling, including the risk of land displacement and landslides.
“Does it affect the environment? Or do we just wait for landslides?” he said.
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