'Tap water is unreliable, dirty'<\/p>\n
Despite its divestment plan as a way to improve its services,
\nmany people are still skeptical about city-owned water company
\nPDAM Jaya. Some shared their concerns with The Jakarta Post,
\nhoping that the firm will improve its services.<\/p>\n
Dian, 31, is a housewife who lives in Kayu Jati, East Jakarta,
\nwith her husband. She was born in Jakarta:<\/p>\n
I don't care whether the city-owned tap water company is
\nprivatized or not. I don't care who manages water supply. What I
\nreally care about is the product, whether it is good or not.<\/p>\n
Other private companies could probably run the water business
\nif given the chance. There are many competent firms that could do
\nit.<\/p>\n
However, it would be better if it was a multinational company
\nwith reliable technology running the business.<\/p>\n
I don't want the government to manage such a business, as it
\nis prone to corruption and monopolistic practices.<\/p>\n
Sigit, 31, is a teacher at a private junior and senior high
\nschool on Jl. Dewi Sartika, East Jakarta. He lives in Pondok
\nUngu, Bekasi, with his son and wife:<\/p>\n
I think the city-owned tap water company has improved.<\/p>\n
I paid around Rp 700,000 to be connected last year. It's much
\ncheaper than the Rp 2 million it charged new customers
\npreviously.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, its service is still bad as problems always
\noccur from 6 a.m. up to 12 p.m. when the water pressure is
\nnonexistent.<\/p>\n
But I have no choice. I gave up using artesian water two years
\nago because the water was brownish and unhealthy for cooking and
\ndrinking.<\/p>\n
So, if the city-owned tap water company is privatized, it
\nshould at the same time strive to improve its services.<\/p>\n
Andre, 31, is a marketing staff member at a prominent private
\nbank in Jakarta. He resides in Pondok Kacang Prima housing
\ncomplex in Ciledug, Tangerang, with his wife. He arrived from
\nYogyakarta three years ago:<\/p>\n
The city-owned water supply company has not yet reached the
\ncity's remote outer areas. But ironically, when I lived in Gunung
\nSahari, Central Jakarta, there was no water supply from the
\ncompany there either. It means that the distribution is still
\nlimited to certain areas in the city.<\/p>\n
Besides, its poor services and poor water quality have already
\ntarnished its image.<\/p>\n
I agree that the company should be privatized because a
\nprivate company would be much more professional serving the
\npublic. So far, the government has fallen short of providing good
\nservices due to corrupt officials and poor management.<\/p>\n
Realizing the difficulty in getting clean water, I just hope
\nthat the new water company will expand its distribution to a
\nwider area so that I can become a customer.<\/p>\n
Bambang Budi S., 36, is a public relations officer in a noted
\norganization in Jakarta. He resides in Cilandak, South Jakarta,
\nwith his wife. He came to Jakarta 10 years ago from Surakarta,
\nCentral Java:<\/p>\n
I must say that the water and the service provided by PAM Jaya
\nare poor. We buy dirty water at expensive rates.<\/p>\n
Processing water is disgusting since the water is originally
\ndirty and contaminated river water. Frankly, I don't have a
\nfavorable image of PDAM Jaya.<\/p>\n
Its bad image sometimes affects its customers' behavior. Well,
\nI have to admit that I don't trust the quality of water provided
\nby PDAM Jaya. Isn't the fact that people generally filter tap
\nwater proof that they don't trust it?<\/p>\n
I think the company needs to provide more information to the
\npublic about tap water. In addition, the company should be open
\nto criticism and accommodate complaints in an effort to develop
\ntwo-way communication between producer and consumer.<\/p>\n
Otherwise, public distrust will deepen. Compared to other
\ncities, Jakarta does not provide quality, reliable tap water
\nservices.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/tap-water-is-unreliable-dirty-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}