Repeated Flooding in Kaligawe Disrupts Local Economy and Highlights Flood Pump Maintenance Issues

 VIONELLA IZZA MAULIDA (30802300023)

Semarang, Central Java, 9 November 2025. On Wednesday, October 22, 2025, the area around Kaligawe Highway in Semarang City was flooded. This was not the first time flooding had occurred. In previous years, flooding has also occurred in this area, like an annual eventThe annual flooding occurs around the end of the year, from October to December. However, it sometimes also occurs at the beginning of the year, around March and April.

The flooding that occurred around Kaligawe for two weeks left several complaints from the surrounding community both economically and in terms of facilities and infrastructure. These complaints included a decrease in customers and pumps that had just been repaired when the flooding occurred. This was conveyed by Mrs. Sri, a soto seller, and Mr. Dul, an online motorcycle taxi driver.

Pak Dul is an online motorcycle taxi driver who now lives near Kaligawe Road, specifically in Tambakrejo Village, Gayamsari, Semarang City, which was also severely affected by flooding. As Pak Dul said, flooding like this always occurs every year. In fact, his wife also said that the worst flooding ever occurred around 2022 and 2023.

The flooding, which began on October 22, 2025, and receded around November 2, 2025, had a negative impact on online motorcycle taxi drivers. Not only Pak Dul, but his friends who are also online motorcycle taxi drivers experienced the same thing. According to Pak Dul, the flooding caused his income to decrease because his customers chose to use safer modes of transportation rather than riding online motorcycle taxis. Additionally, the complete closure of roads during the flood also prevented online motorcycle taxi drivers from accessing their work areas. The flood response in Kaligawe and surrounding areas also involved flood pumps to help drain the water. However, some pumps failed to operate during the flood and were instead being repaired at the time. The flood could have receded faster if the pumps had been functioning smoothly.

“It won't take a week, maybe two days at most, for the water to recede and the repairs to be completed, so the pump needs to be repaired,”

said Pak Dul while sitting on the terrace of his house on Saturday afternoon (November 8, 2025).

Figure. 1
Mr. Dul, wearing his online motorcycle taxi jacket and riding his motorcycle, leaves for work from his home in Tambakrejo village

Pak Dul also said that it would be better to repair the pump before flooding occurs, as a form of anticipation, so that when flooding occurs, the pump is ready to be used and does not have to be repaired during the flooding.

Mrs. Sri, a soto vendor in Tambakrejo Village, Gayamsari, Semarang City, also raised complaints about the pump. In the past few weeks, during the flood, her stall was also affected, with water levels reaching up to her thighs.

“For decades it has been like this, they say that if there are improvements to the pump house, it will be ready when the floods come. If I may suggest, it should be repaired before the rainy season, such as in July and August, when there is not much rain yet.”

Said Mrs. Sri while selling at her stall on Saturday (11/8/2025) afternoon.