The quality of the water in Sumber Gedor cannot be doubted. The water is very clean and of very good quality. No wonder the Dutch used to choose the Sumber Gedor area as the only source that supplied clean water to the city of Banyuwangi in ancient times.
Based on the search of the Jawa Pos Radar Banyuwangi expedition team (JP-RaBa) and Banjoe the scent of Tempoe Doeloe (BTD) It is known that the Gedor water source dam was built by the Dutch in 1926. At that time the Banyuwangi region could not enjoy clean water evenly.
The Dutch also felt the need to build a dam near the Kaliklatak Plantation. Then, the water is distributed throughout the Banyuwangi area. Vice Chairman of BTD, Kent Ali, who happens to be a resident of Gombeng Sari Village, said that the construction of the dam in Sumber Gedor used to involve the residents of Gombeng Sari.
However, because at that time the Dutch were colonizers, they involve the residents of Gombeng Sari as building project workers without giving a penny in return, aka the forced labor system. The workers were only fed without being given money by the Dutch at that time.
“This is according to my grandparents' story. My family is originally wong Gombeng. The building consultant used to be Dutch,said Kent Ali. A water dam in the Gedor Source as wide as 12 the hectare is still functioning well.
Even, by Kent Ali, It is certain that if the water debit in Sumber Gedor is small, the PDAM water supply in Banyuwangi city will stagnate. Because, Gedor Source is a very vital source as a supplier of clean water in Banyuwangi since ancient times.
"The construction of the Gedor source coincides with the construction of a bridge connecting Gombeng Sari Village and Kali Klatak Plantation"," added Kent Ali. According to the stories of his ancestors who are still stored in Kent Ali's memory, Gedor source before being chosen by the Dutch as a supplier of clean water to the city of Banyuwangi, Gedor's source of water is known to be clear. The fresh water was often used by ancient residents to meet their daily needs.
“Gedor's source is in the middle of the forest. Residents used to only enjoy clean water from the stream, not from a direct source. Because they were afraid to go to the middle of the forest in the old days,He said. According to Kent Ali, possibly the word Gedor comes from the word "go door" which means to go to the door.
As known, Sumber Gedor used to be the only clean water gate in Banyuwangi. Possibly the colonizers used to call it “Go Door” and then the natives imitated it as Gedor.
"Maybe in the past Banyuwangi people took it easy to say go door with Gedor". This Gedor source by the surrounding community is also known as the umbul,"explained Kent Ali. Still according to Kent Ali, first every date 17 August, local residents often perform prayers around the source of Gedor.
The salvation is a form of gratitude for the citizens to God for the continuous flow of the abundant source of Gedor. Water is needed by humans and plants. "But the salvation at Gedor's source is no longer available because now there are many residents here who are staying". The last time it was done was around 1984," he added.
Until now, the Gedor source dam is still standing strong and functioning well even though the building is covered with moss. Gedor's source also has something to do with reservoirs Penataban water in Penataban Village, Turns.
Known, This water reservoir was also built by the Dutch a year after the construction of the Sumber Gedor dam, exact year 1927. “Water is supplied from the Gedor, while the water reservoir is in Penataban. In Penataban it is as a regulator of water supply to the entire Banyuwangi area. The Penataban water reservoir has also functioned as a PDAM office," concluded Munawir, ketuta BTD. (radar)
