Suitability of Water Catchment Areas and Their Implications for the Development of Balikpapan City

Balikpapan City, one of the National Activity Centers, has advantages in terms of geostatistics. It is predicted that it will continue to develop into a big city, which is in line with the determination of the National Capital City location in Penajam Paser Utara. However, along with these developments, there are challenges in balancing space utilisation where protected areas are increasingly threatened, including the catchment function zone. Water catchment areas have one of the important functions as a place for rainwater to seep into the soil and subsequently become groundwater, so their existence has an important role in efforts to prevent the danger of flooding and land subsidence. Therefore, this study aims to analyse the potential of water catchment areas and their implications for developing Balikpapan City. The method combines historical literature research with analysis of the Geographic Information System (GIS) of Balikpapan City. The techniques used include multi-criteria analysis and analysis of the suitability of spatial pattern plan, the last stage of formulating spatial recommendations that need to be carried out in anticipating negative impacts due to future city development. In conclusion, it was concluded that Balikpapan City has 33% (16,950 ha) of the high water catchment potential area, divided into five typologies of suitability of water catchment potential, between very suitable and inappropriate. Based on the Regulation of the Mayor of Balikpapan Number 22 of 2021 concerning spatial pattern plan, 61% of the areas with High Water Infiltration Potential are designated areas with a protection function. Meanwhile, 39% of the other High Water Infiltration Potential areas are in regions with cultivation functions.