Tap water supply drops due to canal damage<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso has called for Jakartans to be
\npatient over disruptions to the city's tap water supply following
\na rupture of the West Tarum canal in West Java.<\/p>\n
The rupture, which occurred on Dec. 9, has reduced the volume
\nof water passing through the city's treatment plants in Buaran
\nand Pulogadung in East Jakarta and Pejompongan in Central Jakarta
\nby 41 percent. The usual volume of water passing through the
\nplants is 16.3 cubic meters per second, but this has dropped to
\nonly 9.7 cubic meters, he explained.<\/p>\n
"I hope people are patient enough and understand that the
\ndamage that has occurred was beyond our control. The canal was
\nbuilt in 1960 and is now in a state of disrepair," he said.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso said that the Jatiluhur Dam Authority, which is
\nresponsible for maintenance work on the canal, had estimated that
\nrepair work would take around one month to complete.<\/p>\n
"We need about one month to undertake repair work in
\nconjunction with the Ministry of Public Works, the city water
\ncompany PDAM Jaya and its private partners," he said.<\/p>\n
The governor also urged people to be conservative in their use
\nof water and to avoid wasting it.<\/p>\n
A city administration circular said that the tap water supply
\nto East and North Jakarta had been cut by 45 percent. In Central,
\nSouth and the central part of North Jakarta, flows have been
\nreduced by 30 percent. No details were available of disruptions
\nto the supply in West Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso said city residents could request the delivery of
\nwater tanks if they were faced with water shortages.<\/p>\n
Water tanks<\/p>\n
The head of PDAM Jaya, Rama Boedi told SCTV television that
\nhis company had prepared 70 water tanks in anticipation of
\nshortages in certain areas.<\/p>\n
Asked whether the authority would compensate Jakartans for the
\ninconvenience caused by the rupture, Sutiyoso said: "I can't
\nanswer that question".<\/p>\n
Agus Pambagio, who is the vice chairman of the Indonesian
\nConsumers Organization (YLKI), said that PDAM Jaya's regular
\ncustomers should not be given water bills while the supply is
\ndisrupted.<\/p>\n
"The authorities should compensate customers for the sake of
\nfair play because customers are punished immediately if they
\nviolate certain regulations, like late payment of water bills.<\/p>\n
"The same measures should apply to the water supplier," he
\npointed out.<\/p>\n
Nani Sariati of Thames Pam Jaya (TPJ), one of two companies
\nwhich, along with PDAM Jaya, manage the water supply in eastern
\nJakarta, said her company would consider the suggestions made by
\nYLKI.<\/p>\n
"We can't give an immediate answer. We'll first need to
\ndiscuss the matter with the city administration and Pam Lyonnaise
\nJaya (or Palyja, which supplies western Jakarta)," she said.<\/p>\n
Nani, who is the company's sales and marketing manager, said
\nthat TPJ had prepared 26 water tanks each containing three to
\nfive tons of water for people caught short by the reduced supply.<\/p>\n
She said that TPJ had already delivered 140 tons of water to
\nvarious parts of the capital, including Kramat Lontar, Cempaka
\nPutih and Matraman in East Jakarta and Gatot Subroto hospital in
\nCentral Jakarta.<\/p>\n
"We have yet to receive any request from businesses like
\nhotels or factories. Usually these sorts of places have an
\nalternative supply of water," she said.<\/p>\n
Laliep Kohongia, media relations officer for Palyja, said that
\nher company had prepared 27 water tanks for emergency
\ndistribution.<\/p>\n
Those needing water should contact Palyja on 5741921, fax
\nnumber 5724430. TPJ can be contacted on 5772010. (ind)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/tap-water-supply-drops-due-to-canal-damage-1447893297",
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