Saving the future through water conservation programs<\/p>\n
Debbie A. Lubis, Contributor, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Many of us have perhaps never pondered on how a drop of water
\ncan influence our life. With the ever-growing population today,
\nwater consumption has increased dramatically.<\/p>\n
It is estimated that an individual requires more than 100
\nliters of water every day. Water is essential to life, not only
\nfor drinking or cooking but also for bathing and even washing
\ncars.<\/p>\n
Consequently, water resources are beginning to become scarce
\nwhile water-related environmental problems are likely to occur.
\nWater is scarce in some areas, while in other areas it is too
\ndirty to utilize. In addition, landslides, mudflows, floods and
\ndrought are natural hazards that can escalate into disasters
\nthreatening the lives and wellbeing of people.<\/p>\n
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), millions of
\npeople, most of whom are children, die from water-related
\ndiseases every year.<\/p>\n
No wonder the World Water Day, which falls on March 22 focuses
\nits theme on Water and Disasters.<\/p>\n
Although it takes a long time for most natural disasters to
\nhappen, efforts to mitigate the potential impacts of natural
\nhazards and water-related disasters need to be done. Therefore,
\nmany tap water suppliers or bottled water producers are currently
\ndeveloping water conservation projects, involving as many sectors
\nas possible such as communities, the government, non-governmental
\norganizations, the academia, and the media.<\/p>\n
\"We always remind the people of the importance of not ignoring
\na leaking faucet or water pipe. They should contact our call
\ncenter right away in case of leaking pipes,\" said Maria
\nSidabutar, public relations manager of PT Pam Lyonnaise Jaya
\n(Palyja). \"A dripping faucet, can accumulate as much as 14 liters
\nwithin 24 hours or 4,750 liters in a year. Just calculate how
\nmany liters of water from how many water pipes and faucets are
\nlost for nothing.\"<\/p>\n
As a taped water supplier for residents living in West
\nJakarta, South Jakarta, and parts of Central and North Jakarta,
\nPalyja has tried to change the public's perception and attitude
\ntoward water treatment since it was established in 1998. It
\ndistributes posters on protecting water resources and using water
\nwisely to private\/state-run schools and gives its clients
\ncalendars with a water theme every year.<\/p>\n
Sometimes, it holds writing competitions to raise awareness of
\nthe importance of using water wisely or keeping rivers clean.<\/p>\n
Palyja and PT Thames Pam Jaya (TPJ) and their partner city-
\nowned water company Pam Jaya once took a group of community
\nleaders, municipal officers, and journalists for a drive along
\nthe 70 kilometers of river from Jatiluhur Dam to Cawang Water
\nTreatment Plant.<\/p>\n
\"They could see the critical condition of the open canal,
\nwhich is highly polluted because of waste from factories and
\nhouseholds.\"<\/p>\n
Many of the residents living along the riverbanks use the
\nriver as their garbage dump. Some even throw away used beds or
\ndead animals into the river. They also erect floating toilets on
\nthe river and wash their clothes using the river water.<\/p>\n
Palyja routinely disseminates information on maintaining a
\nhealthy environment to them. But still, their awareness of
\npotential water-related hazards remains low.<\/p>\n
\"It takes time for the officers to remove the garbage from the
\ngate. The more the garbage accumulates at the canal gate, the
\nmore chance there is of flooding. Water pipes that are submerged
\nby flooding are susceptible to contamination.\"<\/p>\n
To build disaster-resilient communities and to synergize
\nknowledge and actions for the sustainable development of the
\ncountry, another tap water company PT Thames Pam Jaya (TPJ) has
\ncooperated with academicians to conduct research on the level of
\nheavy metals and turbidity of the water along the river from
\nJatiluhur Dam to Buaran Water Production Unit.<\/p>\n
\"Mainly the obstacles that we face come from lack of awareness
\namong community members about the importance of protecting and
\nmaintaining water as a valuable natural resource. There are many
\npeople that still need to be educated about environmental
\nproblems, especially about river pollution or reporting leakage
\nin water pipes and how it affects the quantity and quality of
\nwater they receive,\" Devy A. Yheanne, TPJ's public relations
\nmanager.<\/p>\n
The company was established in 1997 and provides water
\nservices to over 2.9 million people in Eastern Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Through an interactive program on a private radio station, TPJ
\nalso disseminates information about water problems. The
\ncommunity's participation in reporting leaking water pipes to its
\n24-hour Call Center at 577-2010 has proven that the public
\nactually are concerned with these problems.<\/p>\n
TPJ also conducts an intensive campaign to raise awareness of
\nthe importance of water conservation by sending flyers to its
\ncustomers along with the water bill. This year, TPJ plans to
\neducate students at elementary schools to senior high schools
\nabout water conservation.<\/p>\n
Devy said that the company also tries to widen its
\ndistribution coverage in a bid to reduce direct extraction of
\nground water. \"We are also trying to reduce losses due to illegal
\nwater connection or leakage of water pipes.\"<\/p>\n
In the Marunda Project, which won the 2000 Worldaware Business
\nAward, TPJ provided underprivileged households with clean tap
\nwater at a reduced fee. TPJ now provides clean water to more
\nthan 12,000 people in this poor community in North Jakarta.<\/p>\n
TPJ also worked in partnership with local organizations and
\nthe Ministry of Settlement and Regional Infrastructure to build a
\nwater network at Pegangsaan Dua in North Jakarta and Cakung Timur
\nin East Jakarta. This scheme will provide local disadvantaged
\ncommunities with clean water services.<\/p>\n
The concern over reducing the possibility of disaster has
\nspurred bottled water company PT Aqua Golden Mississippi to
\nconduct a sustainable program to preserve nature. Aqua, which is
\noften called \"Mountain Spring Water\" originates from a natural
\nwater source in the mountain, which flows naturally to the
\nsurface. It is not being sucked nor pumped and did not come from
\nthe branch of a water source.<\/p>\n
The company does not use ordinary plastic material for its
\nbottles or the five-gallon containers but polyethylene
\nterephthalate (PET) and poly carbonate since both are known to be
\nmore durable, transparent and environmentally friendly.<\/p>\n
Its program of planting useful trees for biological diversity
\nis called \"Aqua Friend Tree\". There are more than one hundred
\nkinds of Aqua Friend Trees that can preserve the environment and
\nhave economic value, or even can promote health.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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