'City administration isn't serious about water problems'<\/p>\n
Multistory buildings and skyscrapers in the city have been blamed
\nfor the current shortage of groundwater. Excessive exploitation
\nof groundwater has made it difficult for Jakarta residents to get
\naccess to safe drinking water for their daily needs.
\nSome residents shared their views about the current situation
\nwith The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Anthony, 42, is a manager of a private bank in Salemba,
\nCentral Jakarta. He has been residing in Setiabudi, South Jakarta
\nfor 12 years with his wife and two children:<\/p>\n
Skyscrapers, hotels and government buildings have been
\nexploiting the groundwater in the city for years. They have
\n\"competed\" to drill deeper and deeper artesian wells to gain the
\nmaximum groundwater for their needs.<\/p>\n
I wonder whether or not they think about the risks they have
\nto account for due to the excessive exploitation.<\/p>\n
I'm sure that the uncontrolled drilling will in the future
\nresult in a scarcity of groundwater. If so, what will we get in
\nthe future from the wells?<\/p>\n
A gubernatorial decree on the use of groundwater has not been
\neffective to curb the over exploitation of groundwater. Advanced
\ntechnology, hopefully, will help us deal with groundwater
\nscarcity in the future. I mean technology to enable the
\npurification and treatment of seawater for consumption.<\/p>\n
As the water problem in the city is getting complicated, I
\nwould prefer to move to the city's outskirts such as an area
\nclose to Bogor.<\/p>\n
Eka Dewi P.S., 20, is a teacher of a noted tourism school in
\nKalimalang, East Jakarta. She was born and lives in Tanah Abang,
\nCentral Jakarta:<\/p>\n
The continued construction of multistory buildings in the city
\nshould be blamed for our groundwater shortage. The race to get
\nadequate groundwater has continued without proper monitoring by
\nthe government.<\/p>\n
The intense groundwater exploration does not jive with serious
\nre-greening efforts. The natural catchment system does not work
\nproperly any longer.<\/p>\n
The chronic water problems do relate to poor leadership in
\nmanaging the city. Unluckily, most of the city residents don't
\nhave the proper awareness to take care of the environment.<\/p>\n
Perhaps, public campaigns on healthy living and a sense of
\ndiscipline would help deal with the (water) problem.<\/p>\n
Henri, is a supervisor at a private property company located
\non Jl. Jend. Sudirman, Central Jakarta. The unmarried man has
\nbeen living in Sunter, North Jakarta for 12 years:<\/p>\n
Frankly, I cannot stand the water crisis any longer. The salty
\ngroundwater in Sunter is not fit for consumption.<\/p>\n
We can't use it for washing and bathing. My car easily
\ncorrodes as I had washed it with the salty groundwater.<\/p>\n
I believe that in general the water in the city is severely
\ncontaminated due to environmental damage.<\/p>\n
Worse still, the quality of groundwater has also become
\ninferior due to excessive exploitation, among other things.<\/p>\n
I'm sure that we will lack groundwater, because of
\nuncontrolled exploitation, in the future.<\/p>\n
The common practice of disposing of industrial waste (directly
\ninto the waterways) has contributed to water pollution.<\/p>\n
I just wonder why the city administration officials don't take
\nthe problem seriously.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/city-administration-isnt-serious-about-water-problems-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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