Flood is indeed a big problem in Jakarta as a metropolitan city. From the colonial era to present day, flood has not yet been resolved adequately. Fisiography cycles, space competition, and the management of flood seem to be significant factors affected the continuous problem of flood in Jakarta.
Seeing from the perspective of tisiography which is related to geomorphology, geology, and hydrology, ?lowland of Jakarta formed from rivers? sedimentation thousand years ago. This in fact has formed areas below the sea level like swamp and lake areas. Sedimentation process was accelerated after the eruption of the Motmt Salak in 1699, in which newly lowland has been increasing each year around 15-50 metres depending on flood and wind direction. Due to this sedimentation, Jakarta topography is flat where water could not tlow smoothly.
The emergence of Jakarta as settlement areas originated from the Sunda Kelapa Kingdom that developed in the Jakarta coastal area. This process of settlement has developed rapidly along with the VOC conquered Jakarta. Being a central of the colonial trading, population has increased dramatically that also extended the size of Jakarta. In 1830, the city extended toward southem part, well-know as Weltevreden. Menteng was built in 1918 alter the development of Jakarta itself.
The increasing number of population from 1948 - 1950 was occurred when the capital of the country moved from Yogyakarta to Jakarta. After 1970s population booming has happened in Jakarta which consequently increasing number of buildings could not be avoided. The construction of housing complexes, trading centres, and industries have even conducted in the restricted areas for any buildings, including the environmental geology area of 1,2 and 3. The impact of these constructions could be clearly seen through the decreasing of absorbing water areas. Therefore, flooding areas have increased rapidly. From 1892 to 1930 flood had been around Weltevreden area, but in 1985 floods have reached the outskirts of Jakarta, including Bintaro, Ciputat, and Pasar Minggu.
To solve the flood, structural approach has been applied since 1911. During colonial period flood, especially in 1919, the canal of Kali Malang and Manggarai water control were built. After the independence, 1970 - 1985, floods have been managed by constructing Cengkareng drain, Cakung drain and so forth. Though government has spent a lot of funding, flood could not be stopped it. Flood is indeed a difficult homework for government of Jakarta.