'I deserve good water service'<\/p>\n
In response to demands from foreign water operators PT Thames Pam
\nJaya of Britain and PT Pam Lyonaise Jaya of France, Governor
\nSutiyoso proposed a 45 percent water price increase to the City
\nCouncil. This has not gone over well with many tap water
\ncustomers, who complain about the poor quality of the water and
\ndisrupted distribution due partly to the high level of water
\nleakage and other inefficiencies. The Jakarta Post asked a number
\nof residents to comment on the issue.<\/p>\n
Wawan Kurniawan, 28, is a teacher at a private junior high
\nschool in Kebayoran, South Jakarta. He lives in Rawamangun, East
\nJakarta:<\/p>\n
I am of the opinion that it would be better for the city-owned
\ntap water company to provide the best service possible to the
\npublic. I'm sure the company is able to manage water
\ndistribution.<\/p>\n
So I wonder why the company relies on the foreign investors to
\noperate it.<\/p>\n
I have complained many times about disruptions in the water
\ndistribution during the "peak" hours in the morning when most
\npeople are taking a shower. Besides, the water is so dirty I have
\nto clean my bathtub every few days.<\/p>\n
It is not fair to demand customers pay a water price increase
\njust to cover the leakage and irregularities. Those are the
\ncompany's faults not the customers.<\/p>\n
I think the proposal to raise water rates is kind of
\nblackmailing the public in the name of public interests. I am at
\nodds with the city governor's proposal.<\/p>\n
Worse, the management of city-owned companies here lacks
\ntransparency to the public.<\/p>\n
If the price hike were to be followed by an improvement in
\nservice, then the consumers would not think it burdensome. But
\nthe fact that water distribution and quality remain poor is very
\nfrustrating.<\/p>\n
The only thing I know for sure is that I deserve good tap
\nwater service and I don't care who manages the water company.<\/p>\n
Tuchid, 30, was formerly employed at a hotel on Jl. Hayam
\nWuruk in West Jakarta. He lives with relatives in Slipi Jaya,
\nWest Jakarta:<\/p>\n
I think the city-owned tap water company must be capable of
\nmanaging water in the city.<\/p>\n
However, the corrupt mentality of civil servants is so acute
\nthat they always fail to improve the water service to the public.<\/p>\n
I wonder how they improve service if they always come to work
\nlate in the morning and then leave the office during work hours.
\nIt's no wonder that the tap water service is still poor.<\/p>\n
Actually, the city-owned tap water company should be very
\ncapable of managing itself. Which means the company should not
\nhave signed a joint cooperation agreement with the foreign
\ninvestors.<\/p>\n
I don't think the agreement has done anything to improve
\nservice as many customers still complain about the tap water.<\/p>\n
And even if water prices are increased by up to 45 percent, I
\ndon't think it will improve the service.<\/p>\n
As a customer I deserve to get my money's worth in terms of
\nservice. It's ridiculous to pay more money for a product that is
\ndirty and of poor quality. So how come they can raise the price?<\/p>\n
The city-owned tap water company should prove to the public
\nits competence so it won't have to depend on foreign investors
\nanymore.<\/p>\n
Vina, 30, is a housewife who lives in Semper, North Jakarta,
\nwith her husband and two children:<\/p>\n
I used to use tap water distributed by the city-owned water
\ncompany. However, my family cannot count on the tap water.<\/p>\n
So now we pump water from an artesian well so we get water
\nwhenever we need it.<\/p>\n
The distribution of the tap water is often disrupted and worse
\nstill the quality of the water is far from what is expected.<\/p>\n
I care more about the product itself than some joint agreement
\nsigned by the city-owned tap water company and the foreign
\ninvestors. Meaning, why doesn't the city administration focus its
\nattention on how to improve the service and quality?<\/p>\n
Everybody knows that tap water distribution in the city is
\nvery poor. The joint agreement has failed to provide better
\nservice.<\/p>\n
So what's the benefit of raising water prices as proposed by
\nthe governor? It will just burden and disappoint the people, I
\nguess. Leo Wahyudi S<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/i-deserve-good-water-service-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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