Palyja ensures water from Cisadane is safe<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Private water company Pam Lyonnaise Jaya
\n(Palyja) ensured the public on Wednesday that treated water from
\nthe Cisadane River was safe for consumption.<\/p>\n
The company's technical operations manager Pierre Etienne
\nSegre said the company had taken samples of water from the
\nCisadane River to the Tirta Cisadane laboratory to have them
\nchecked.<\/p>\n
Noting that the company had also conducted its own test by
\nsending water samples to the head office in France, Segre said
\nthe result was not much different from that of the previous test,
\nwhich recorded mercury levels of 0.0025 ppb (part per billion),
\nthe lowest level detectable.<\/p>\n
\"Of course, a pollution risk does exist but it is very low,\"
\nhe said, stressing the preparations his company had made and its
\nexperience in managing pollution.<\/p>\n
Segre made the remarks during the inauguration of the
\ncompany's water distribution center and reservoir in Kebon Jeruk,
\nWest Jakarta.<\/p>\n
His remarks were aimed at clarifying recent reports that water
\nfrom the Cisoka and Cikaniki estuaries, which flow into the
\nCisadane, had been contaminated with mercury due to the growing
\nnumber of illegal gold mining activities in Cipongkor, Bogor, in
\nthe wake of economic crisis that hit the country in late 1997.<\/p>\n
\"The water is good and the result is almost zero as has been
\nproven by the tests conducted in the two laboratories,\" he said,
\nadding that his company would nevertheless conduct periodic tests
\nto ensure the quality of the water.<\/p>\n
He warned, however, that the water could face higher risks of
\npollution of mining operations in the area increased.<\/p>\n
Mercury is widely used by miners in Cipongkor to separate gold
\nore from sand. Many of them, however, are not aware of the safety
\nmeasures needed when using the toxic chemical.<\/p>\n
Hearing<\/p>\n
The issue of mercury-polluted water was raised in a hearing
\nwith the Commission D of West Java Provincial Legislative Council
\nand the Environment Control Agency on Feb. 9 in Bandung.<\/p>\n
The mercury level was earlier detected at 3.33 ppb, three
\ntimes higher than the safe maximum level of 1 ppb. With such a
\nhigh mercury content, all living organisms are affected by the
\ntoxic substance, which can cause health hazards to people who
\nconsume fish from the water.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, while touching on water tariffs, the company's
\nspokesperson, Uraini Umarjadi, said the provincial legislative
\ncouncil gave the final decision on tariffs, while the company
\nonly gave a recommendation.<\/p>\n
She explained that the company served 230,000 customers in the
\nwestern part of Jakarta, an increase of 30,000 customers from two
\nyears ago when the company took over the operations from city-
\nowned PAM Jaya. (06)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/palyja-ensures-water-from-cisadane-is-safe-1447893297",
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